CHAPTER XIX.

NERVOUS DISEASES.

Hydrophobia-Epileptic Fits-Teething Fits-Fits from Worms - Apoplectic Fits-Sucking Fits-Fits from Distemper Chorea-Palsy-Kennel Lameness-Palsy in the Back.

HYDROPHOBIA.

THIS malady is quite incurable, though scarcely a month passes without some paragraph going the round of the newspapers, detailing the discovery of a new pretended specific. The disease is exceedingly rare, and I myself freely confess that I have never seen a case which I could satisfy myself was real hydrophobia. As the recognition of the true symptoms is the only important point about the disease, I shall quote the excellent description of them by Youatt :

"Much has been said of the profuse discharge of saliva from the mouth of the rabid dog. It is an undoubted fact that, in this disease, all the glands concerned in the secretion of saliva become increased in bulk and vascularity. The sublingual glands wear an evident character of inflammation; but it never equals the increased discharge that accompanies epilepsy or nausea. The frothy spume at the corner of the mouth, is not for a moment to

be compared with that which is evident enough in both of these affections. It is a symptom of short duration, and seldom lasts longer than twelve hours. The stories that are told of the mad dog covered with froth are altogether fabulous. The dog recovering from, or attacked by a fit, may be seen in this state, but not the rabid dog. Fits are often mistaken for rabies, and hence the delusion.

"The increased secretion of saliva soon passes away. It lessens in quantity; it becomes thicker, viscid, adhesive, and glutinous. It clings to the corners of the mouth, and probably more annoyingly so to the membrane of the fauces. The human being is sadly distressed by it; he forces it out with the greatest violence, or utters the falsely supposed bark of a dog, in his attempts to force it from his mouth. This symptom occurs in the human being, when the disease is fully established, or at a late period of it. The dog furiously attempts to detach it with his paws.

"It is an early symptom in the dog, and it can scarcely be mistaken in him. When he is fighting with his paws at the corners of his mouth, let no one suppose that a bone is sticking in the poor fellow's teeth, nor should any useless and dangerous effort be made to relieve him. If all this uneasiness arose from a bone in the mouth, the mouth would continue permanently open instead of closing when the animal for a moment discontinues his efforts. If, after a while, he loses his balance and tumbles

over, there can be no longer any mistake. It is the saliva becoming more and more glutinous, irritating the fauces and threatening suffocation.

"To this naturally and rapidly succeeds an insatiable thirst. The dog that still has full power over the muscles of his jaws, continues to lap. He knows not when to cease, while the poor fellow labouring under the dumb madness, presently to be described, and whose jaw and tongue are paralysed, plunges his muzzle into the water-dish to his very eyes, in order that he may get one drop of water into the back part of his mouth, to moisten and to cool his dry and parched fauces. Hence, instead of this disease being always characterized by the dread of water in the dog, it is marked by a thirst often perfectly unquenchable. Twenty years ago this assertion would have been peremptorily denied. Even at the present day we occasionally meet with those who ought to know better, and who will not believe that the dog which fairly, or perhaps eagerly, drinks, can be rabid."

FITS

Are of several sorts, each kind being attributable to a different cause. It is most important therefore carefully to distinguish them. The commonest remedy resorted to by ignorant persons in a case of fits, namely bleeding, is precisely the one that is most likely to destroy the dog. Fits may be

classed as epileptic fits, teething fits, fits from worms, apoplectic fits, puerperal or sucking fits, . and fits from distemper.

EPILEPTIC FITS.

Symptoms. These fits generally come on when the dog is at exercise; he suddenly seems stupified, staggers for a moment, cries out loudly, then falls upon his side, and remains for some time in more or less violent convulsions; the eyes are slightly protruded, the mouth is covered with foam, and there is a constant champing of the jaws.

Treatment.-Take up the dog in the arms, taking care that he does not bite, which he is very likely to attempt, and carry him home. Then administer, as soon as possible, an injection containing 2 parts sulphuric ether, 1 part laudanum, and 10 parts cold water. The animal should then be left alone for an hour, and the medicine repeated as often as may be necessary. I believe this to be the only kind of treatment of which this description of fit is susceptible.

The object of any further treatment will consist in getting the dog into a good state of health by regulating his diet, allowing him less animal food, giving occasional doses of castor oil if there is constipation, or purgatives and emetics (dose, tartar emetic 2 grains) if the dog is fat or overfed, and by the use of tonics if he is weakly.

Fits from Teething, or Worms,

Mostly occur in puppies, and are caused by the irritation attendant upon teething, or by the presence of worms.

Symptoms. The puppy lies upon his side in convulsions, which are not so violent as those in epileptic fits. There is no frothing at the mouth, and the recovery is slow and gradual.

Treatment. Place the puppy, for five or ten minutes, in a warm bath, of a temperature not exceeding 96 degrees. Then dry him quickly, and wrap him up warmly. If the fit is a severe one, administer the injection of ether and laudanum, as recommended in epileptic fits.

The after treatment of teething fits consists in occasional small doses of castor oil, if there is constipation. Youatt suggests lancing the gums and giving an emetic; this may be useful in some cases, but the puppy usually recovers without any such severe treatment. These fits occur either with the first teeth, during the first month, or when the permanent teeth are cut, which takes place from the fifth to the seventh month.

If the fits are caused by worms, they must be got rid of by the treatment recommended under the head WORMS.