May be distinguished from the fits of puppyhood by the great champing of the jaws and struggling of the limbs during the fit, and also by the frothing at the mouth which is generally an accompaniment of it. It comes on without notice, and in the setter and pointer is peculiarly annoying, because it generally shows itself at the time when their services are most wanted, namely, during the middle of a day's shooting. Very often this happens during the excitement of the "point," but the fit is scarcely marked till the birds are sprung, when the dog generally falls, and is seized with struggles and foaming at the mouth. Generally this lasts for a few minutes, extending sometimes to half an hour, after which he recovers himself, and will even continue his work without loss of nose. With regard to the causes of epilepsy nothing is known, but its attacks are aggravated by improper food, and by the addition of flesh without due preparation, as is often heedlessly done just before the shooting season.

The Treatment consists in attention to the general health, which is all that can be done, as in confirmed epilepsy a cure is seldom effected. If recently developed, bromide of potassium should be given in from 3 to 5 grain doses, and this should be continued for at least a month or six weeks.

By Fits may be understood those which occur to the puppy during dentition or from distemper, both of which indicate either disease of the brain, or great disturbance of the digestive apparatus in consequence of worms. These fits are accompanied by slight convulsions, but no foaming at the mouth, and the dog is not speedily recovered from them, but lies exhausted after he recovers his consciousness. They are very fatal in distemper, being symptoms of great mischief in the brain ; but they are not invariably fatal, because the severity of the fit does not always indicate a corresponding degree of internal mischief.

In their Treatment Mr. Mayhew recommended injections of ether and laudanum ; but I can scarcely assign to this remedy the credit which he claims for it, knowing that many epileptic fits are recovered from without any aid at all, and finding that he classes all under the one head of " fits." In the kind I am now considering, there is generally some exciting cause present, as distemper, or the irritation of worms, or of teething; and if these are removed, the fits will generally subside, and, consequently, the whole attention should be directed to this object. These fits seldom recur many times in succession, being either speedily fatal, or else ending in a complete cure ; and in this respect they are unlike epilepsy, as well as in their symptoms and treatment.