In the horse the muscles affected may be those of the head and neck, of the fore limb (Hering), of head, limbs and trunk (Leblanc).
In cattle the movements have affected the neck and head and the fore or hind limbs (Anacker, Schleg).
In young pigs the hind limbs, the neck and head have been chiefly involved in the spasms (Hess, Vervey).
If the affection is slight it may not seriously impair the general health, but in proportion to its severity and the constancy and generalization of the spasms and the consequent muscular waste and exhaustion, the animal becomes gradually worn out and emaciated and dies of paralysis and marasmus.
Duration. In favorable cases recovery may ensue in a few weeks; in others the disease becomes chronic and will last for months or years.
Treatment. Among the first indications are fresh air and wholesome easily digestible food. The removal of any source of intestinal irritation should be sought by bland laxatives. As the health is usually low, a course of iron tonics is nearly always in order.
Special nervous tonics are next demanded. No agent has a better reputation than arsenious acid. Ten drops of a 1 per cent. solution of arsenite of soda may be given daily to the dog or one ounce to the horse. If gastric irritation forbids the use of this agent, sulphate of zinc may be given in 1 to 3 grain doses twice a day to the dog. In other cases strychine ¹⁄₈₀ to ¹⁄₆₀ of a grain may be given in the same manner.
Nerve sedatives often have a good effect in calming the nervous irritability and in this way belladonna, conium, cannabis Indica, chloral, chloroform, acetanilid, trional, etc., have been employed.
In the same line are ice bags or ether spray applied to the spine for ten minutes at a time, and douche baths of cold water, the animal being afterward rubbed dry. This last partakes of the nature of a stimulant and may be classed with gentle exercise which at once distracts the patients’ attention from the nervous infirmity, trains him to control the muscles, gives normal exercise and tone to the enfeebled organs and improves the general health.