Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 3 (of 5)

by James Law

The duration of the attack may be from one to four minutes, or exceptionally ten or fifteen, after which the muscles relax, the twitching ceases, the horse raises his head, extends his fore limbs and finally rises.

After rising some are dull and stupid for an hour or so, and may continue to perspire, some move the limbs, jaws or head automatically, turn in a circle, or seek seclusion and darkness, while some take at once to eating and seem as if nothing had happened.

In partial or localized epilepsy the spasms are confined to a limited group of muscles like those of the jaws, neck, or fore limbs. These may alternately contract and relax, or they may remain rigid for a minute or less, the mouth being held open or firmly closed with grinding of the teeth, the eyes rolled backward and upward, or affected with strabismus, the face drawn and distorted, the head turned to one side or downward, or the limbs fixed and immovable.

At the conclusion of an attack it is not uncommon to see a discharge of urine or fæces, or in stallions, of semen.

The horse often contracts a fear of the place where the attack occurred, and this contributes, with the re-appearance of the former object of dread (car, locomotive, rifles, cannon, etc.) to precipitate a new attack if he is compelled to go to such a place.

Symptoms in Cattle. In cattle the animal is attacked without premonition, bellows, breathes hard and with effort, has dilatation of the nostrils, and squinting or rolling upward and backward of the eyes and falls to the ground rigid and trembling. There may be violent succussions of the limbs, head or neck, movements of the jaws, grinding of the teeth, and the appearance of frothy saliva and elements of food about the lips. The beats of the heart are violent, the pulse slow and small, and sometimes intermittent. Involuntary micturition, defecation, or discharge of semen may occur. In slight cases one or more of these symptoms may be absent, and the victim may not even fall to the ground but support himself against a wall or other object.

The duration of the attack may be from one to five minutes, rarely more, and there is often a slow and progressive subsidence of the spasms. When recovered the animal may get up and go to eating or rumination as in health.

Symptoms in Sheep. In sheep the attack is sudden. The animal ceases eating or stops in its walking, and after turning or other involuntary movement falls to the ground, head extended, mouth open, eyes rolling or squinting, and with rigidity or twitching of the muscles of the neck or limbs. There is the same loss of sensation, frothing from the mouth, and grinding of the teeth as in the larger animals. The attack may last 40 to 50 seconds.

Symptoms in Swine. In pigs a state of discomfort and restlessness often marks the approach of an attack, referable probably to the digestive disturbance or to parasites which furnish the occasion of the disease. Uneasy, wandering movements, jerkings of head or limbs, rolling of the eyes, and champing of the jaws may first appear. Then the animal falls, extending its limbs and head, with open mouth, retracted lips, and a free flow of saliva. Trembling and jerking of the head, neck and limbs, hurried, short, difficult breathing, and complete loss of sensation may be noted. Discharges of urine, semen, and prostatic fluid are not uncommon. The attack usually lasts 2 or 3 minutes, and exceptionally 10 to 15. In the shorter seizures, frequent repetition is not uncommon, Delafond having observed 5 or 6 attacks in the course of an hour.

Symptoms in Dogs. The attack is sudden and unheralded by prodromata. The animal stops, trembles, cries plaintively and falls; he may manage to rise or to do so in part but instantly falls anew. The limbs stiffen, tremble or twitch, the head is extended or flexed, or jerked, violently striking the ground, the mouth open, with abundant saliva, or firmly closed though the tongue may be between the teeth. The trunk may be firm and rigid or alternately twisted in one direction or the other. The eyes roll or squint, and the breathing is stertorous and difficult. Insensibility is complete. Toward the end of the attack there may be a discharge of urine, fæces or semen, the stools often containing worms. The body is often wet with perspiration during or after an attack.