602 MR. youatt’s veterinary lectures. 
Cramps of the organic Muscles .—We have no means of ascer¬ 
taining how far the stomach of the horse may be affected with 
cramp ; but we have abundant evidence of its existence in the 
intestinal canal. Spasmodic colic is nothing but cramp—sudden, 
involuntary, and painful contraction of the muscles of a certain 
portion of the small intestines : but this will be best considered 
when the digestive system is treated of. One of the most decisive 
symtoms of cholera in the human being is cramp of the muscles 
of the extremities; and where a very similar affection has been 
observed in the horse, the disease has been preceded or accom¬ 
panied by an almost tetanic affection of the limbs. A zebra died 
of cholera in the Zoological Gardens. Soon after the commence¬ 
ment of the attack she was almost a perfect fixture ; when forced 
to move, she fell immediately: and the shock of the fall—the sud- 
den and forcible action of other muscles—gave present and evident 
relief, by disturbing this concentration of energy on the set of 
muscles first affected. 
Cramp in other Animals .—No one who has been accustomed 
to the observation or medical treatment of working oxen has 
failed to observe the painful attacks of cramp to which they are 
subject, and occurring, time after time, until the faschim of the 
muscles are inflamed, and chronic rheumatism ensues; and this 
sometimes, and at no great distance of time, succeeded by palsy. 
Our duty here will principally consist in awakening the agricul¬ 
turist to a sense of his own interest and the duties of humanity. 
What else can be expected, when these too-fiequently abused 
animals, heated and fatigued, are turned into the cold and wet, 
to gather their, perhaps, scanty meal ? 
Dogs are sometimes painfully, and at other times ludicrously, 
attacked with this disease. I have seen the Italian greyhound, 
or the hairless Barbary dog, as it has crossed the marble hall of 
its owner’s abode, convulsively catching up one leg and then the 
other, and at length yelling in consequence of the pain of cramp, 
excited by contact with the cold stone. I have heard the 
pointer that after a hard day’s work has been turned out, during 
the cold night that succeeded, into some ruinous outhouse ,* I 
have heard him, too, howl with agony when he has first begun 
to stretch himself in the morning. The enforcement of kindlier 
attention to the comforts of a valuable servant will be the duty 
of the veterinarian here. 
Stringhalt, 
An affection very much allied to cramp, is that sudden and 
spasmodic action of some of the muscles of the thigh, when the 
horse is first led from the stable, and which we designate by the 
