202 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



the cause when due to dej^ressed bone or the presence of foreign 

 bodies. When the symptoms of compression follow other acute 

 diseases of the brain, apoplectic fits, etc., the treatment must be such 

 as the exigencies of the case demands. 



CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN. 



Causes. — This is generally caused by an animal falling over back- 

 ward and striking his poll, or perhaps falling forward on his nose; 

 by a blow on the head, etc. Train accidents during shipping often 

 cause concussion of the brain. 



Symptoms. — Concussion of the brain is characterized by giddiness, 

 stupor, insensibility, or loss of muscular power, succeeding imme- 

 diately upon a blow or severe injury involving the cranium. The 

 animal may rally quickly or not for hours ; death may occur on the 

 spot or after a few days. When there is only slight concussion or 

 stunning, the animal soon recovers from the shock. When more 

 severe, insensibility may be complete and continue for a considerable 

 time; the animal lies as if in a deep sleep; the pupils are insensible 

 to light ; the pulse fluttering or feeble ; the surface of the body cold, 

 muscles relaxed, and the breathing scarcely perceptible. After a 

 variable interval partial recovery may take place, which is marked 

 by paralysis of some parts of the body, often of a limb, the lips, ear, 

 etc. Convalescence is usually tedious, and frequently permanent im- 

 pairment of some organs remains. 



Pathology. — Concussion produces laceration of the brain, or at 

 least a jarring of the nervous elements, which, if not sufficiently severe 

 to produce sudden death, may lead to softening or inflammation, with 

 their respective symptoms of functional derangement. 



Treatment. — The first object in treatment will be to establish reac- 

 tion or to arouse the feeble and weakening heart. This can often be 

 accomplished by dashing cold water on the head and body of the ani- 

 mal; frequent injections of weak ammonia water, ginger tea, or oil 

 and turpentine should be given per rectum. In the majority of cases 

 this will soon bring the horse to a state of consciousness. In more 

 severe cases mustard poultices should be applied along the spine and 

 above the fetlocks. As soon as the animal gains partial consciousness 

 stimulants, in the form of whisky or capsicum tea, should be given. 

 Owing to severity of the structural injury to the brain or the pos- 

 sible rupture of blood vessels and blood extravasation, the reaction 

 may often be followed by encephalitis or cerebritis, and will then 

 have to be treated accordingly. For this reason the stimulants 

 should not be administered too freely, and they must be abandoned 

 as soon as reaction is established. There is no need for further 

 treatment unless complications develop as a secondary result. Bleed- 

 ing, which is so often practiced, proves almost invariably fatal in 



