G08 MR, youatt’s veterinary lectures. 
In the Dog .—Although there are no recorded cases of it in 
cattle, sheep, or swine, he who has been in the habit of observ¬ 
ing or treating the diseases of these animals has occasionally- 
seen it in a slight degree ; but it is of frequent occurrence in the 
dog. It is a common consequence of distemper that has been 
unusually severe, or has been improperly treated : and it is occa¬ 
sionally seen even after that disease has existed in its mildest 
form. It first appears in one leg or shoulder, and is long, or 
perhaps entirely, confined to that limb. There is a singular spas¬ 
modic jerking action of the limb. It looks like a series of pulsa¬ 
tions, and averages from forty to sixty in a minute. Oftener, 
perhaps, than otherwise, both legs are similarly affected. When 
the animal is lying down, the legs are convulsed in the way that 
I have described ; and when he stands, there is a pulsating de¬ 
pression, or sinking of the head and neck. In some cases the 
muscles of the neck are the principal seat of the disease ; or some 
muscle of the face—the temporal muscle beating like an artery— 
the masseter opening and closing the mouth—the muscles of the 
eyelid, and, in a few cases, even those of the eye itself. These 
convulsive movements often, yet not uniformly cease during 
sleep, but that sleep is usually disturbed. If the case is neg¬ 
lected, and the dog is in a debilitated state, this spasmodic action 
steals over the whole frame, and the animal lies extended, with 
every limb in constant and spasmodic action. In the majority of 
instances, such an expenditure of nervous and muscular power 
slowly wears the animal down, and he dies a mere skeleton : or 
chorea gradually assumes the character of epilepsy, or it quiets 
down into veritable pals)^ In the most favourable cases, no cu¬ 
rative means having been used, the dog regains his flesh and 
general strength, but the chorea continues; the spasmodic action, 
however, being much lessened : at other times, it seems to have 
disappeared ; but it is ready to return when the animal is excited, 
or attacked by other disease. In a variety of instances, I have 
plainly observed that altered irritable temper which is said occa¬ 
sionally to accompany chorea in the human being; and, most 
certainly, when the affection has been extensive and confirmed, 
I have seen an altered expression of countenance, an impairment 
of intellect, and an approach to fatuity. Of course, the dog is 
physically incapable of being serviceable in the field. 
Post-mortem Appearances .—Of the lesions discoverable after 
death, my account must be very unsatisfactory ; and yet I have 
rarely lost an opportunity of searching for them. I have seen 
accumulation of serous fluid in the lateral ventricles, and conges¬ 
tion and induration of the plexus choroides, and sometimes con¬ 
gestion of the vessels of the membranes of the brain ; but I have 
