198 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Causes. — Active cerebral congestion may be due to hypertrophy of 

 the left ventricle of the heart, excessive exertion, the influence of 

 extreme heat, sudden and great excitement, artificial stimulants, etc. 

 Passive congestion may be produced by q.\vv mechanical obstruction 

 which prevents the proper return of blood through the veins to the 

 heart, such as a small or ill-fitting collar, which often impedes the 

 blood current, tumors or abscesses pressing on the vein in its course, 

 and organic lesions of the heart with regurgitation. 



Extremely fat animals with short thick necks are peculiarly subject 

 to attacks of cerebral congestion. Simple congestion, however, is 

 merely a functional affection, and in a slight or moderate degree 

 involves no immediate danger. Extreme engorgement, on the con- 

 trary, may be followed by rupture of previously weakened arteries 

 and capillaries and cause immediate death, designated then as a 

 stroke of apoplexy. 



Symptoms. — Congestion of the brain is usually sudden in its mani- 

 festation and of short duration. The animal may stop very suddenly 

 and shake his head or stand quietly braced on his legs, then stagger, 

 make a plunge, and fall. The eyes are staring, breathing hurried and 

 stertorous, and the nostrils widely dilated. This may be followed by 

 coma, violent convulsive movements, and death. Generally, however, 

 the animal gains relief in a short time, but he may remain weak and 

 giddy for several days. If it is due to organic change of the heart or 

 to disease of the blood vessels in the brain, then the symptoms may 

 be of slow development manifested by drowsiness, dimness or im- 

 perfect vision, difficulty in voluntary movements, diminished sensi- 

 bility of the skin, loss of consciousness, delirium, and death. In 

 milder cases effusion may take place in the arachnoid spaces and 

 ventricles of the brain, followed by paralysis and other, complications. 



Pathology. — In congestion of the brain the cerebral vessels are 

 loaded with blood, and the venous sinuses distended to an extreme 

 degree, and the pressure exerted upon the brain constitutes actual 

 compression, giving rise to the symptoms just mentioned. On post- 

 mortem examinations this engorgement is found universal through- 

 out the brain and its membranes, which serves to distinguish it from 

 inflammations of these structures, in which the engorgements are 

 confined more or less to circumscribed portions. A prolonged con- 

 gestion may, however, lead to active inflammation, and in that case 

 we will find serous and plastic exudations in the cavities of the brain. 

 In addition to the intensely engorged condition of the vessels we find 

 the gray matter of the brain redder in color than natural. In cases 

 where several attacks have occurred the blood vessels are often found 

 permanently dilated. 



Treatment. — Prompt removal of all mechanical obstructions to the 

 circulation. If it is due to venous obstruction by too tight a collar, 



