SPASMODIC MUSCULAR CONTRACTIONS. 
611 
was attacked by a nervous disease affecting the muscles of loco- 
motion : then my first care would be to relax these organs, and to 
diminish their erethism. In order to accomplish this I effected a 
copious bleeding of 11 pounds from the two subcutaneous thora- 
cic veins. 1 had a little trouble in accomplishing this, from the 
continual contractions of the surrounding muscles. I then pre- 
scribed vapour-baths, and fomentation with hot water under the 
belly — the animal being covered with a thick cloth to concen- 
trate the vapour as much as possible. These baths were repeated 
three times in the day. In the intervals between these baths 
considerable friction was applied to the skin, and the mare was 
kept as warm as possible. 
A mixture, composed of powdered valerian, opium, camphor, 
empyreumatic oil, and honey, formed the basis of a drink that 
was given morning, noon, and night. A decoction of poppy heads 
was also administered every hour. She had likewise injections of 
boiled mallow roots and flower. Her diet was much restricted. 
It was thin gruel made of barley-meal. 
In the evening I found my patient in nearly the same state as 
when I left her, except that I could not help fancying that the 
spasms had diminished both in number and intensity. I renewed 
the bleeding, taking about 7 pounds of blood from the brachial 
veins. The other treatment was ordered to be continued. 
At 6 a.m. on the following morning the animal was more 
tranquil than on the preceding evening. The spasms were di- 
minished both in frequency and power. She searched among her 
litter for something to eat ; the respiration was less agitated ; the 
pulse regular, and the alvine dejections of their natural state. 
The same medicine was given, and the same applications made, 
but only half so often. The gruel w ? as continued, and 6 pounds of 
hay allowed in the four-and-tvventy hours. 
3d . — The symptoms of disease have vanished, and any one 
would have said that the animal had not been ill at all, so gay 
and full of spirits was she. All medicine was now suspended, 
and the mare gradually returned to her usual food : as, however, 
the state of the atmosphere was not very satisfactory, for it con- 
tinued cold and rainy, I induced the proprietor not to turn her 
out at night, and not to let her commence her work until eight 
days had passed. I have seen her several times since her reco- 
very, and there is not a trace of disease about her. 
When I first attended on this animal, and had carefully ob- 
served all the symptoms that presented themselves, I was per- 
fectly assured that it w’as a case of neurosis ; but of what kind 1 
1 at first thought of tetanus. It had resemblance to that disease 
in some of its symptoms ; but there was no identity as regarded 
