Sparcstation 1+ jerky mouse motion??

[Dr. Coleman]

  I am having a problem with the new small
mouse pads. The horizontal motion is not
smooth. Sometimes the ability to move 
horizontally disappears altogether! There is
no problem with the vertical motion at all.
Is this a known problem? Is there a cure?
This problem developed after some time.
Is it perhaps a matter of properly cleaning
the pad? With what?

Robert Coleman
Mathematics Department
University of Regina