lOO Veterinary Medicine. 



There is usually, however, a mixing of symptoms so that the 

 benumbing or paralysis of the nervous functions alternates with 

 periods of their exaltation, and with both conditions hyperther- 

 mia exists, though usually higher with meningitis. 



The manifestations of benumbing or paresis may be continu- 

 ous o;; interrupted, and are exhibited in stupor, coma, somnolence, 

 letharg3'^, paresis or parah'sis. The manifestations of excitement 

 are not continuous but occur in paroxysms or at least exacerba- 

 tions, which may show in visual or mental illusions, active, vio- 

 lent delirium, trembling, rigors, clonic or tonic spasms. The 

 onset is usually abrupt, the animal pa.ssing in a few hours from 

 apparent health, to pronounced nervous disorder. The horse 

 seems drowsy and stupid, standing with semi-closed eyes, often 

 drooping lower lip and ears, head pendent and resting in the 

 manger or against the wall in front, the back arched and the 

 limbs drawn together. When moved, it walks unsteadily and often 

 the limbs are left out of plumb, one extending unduly forward, 

 backward or to one side, and often crossing over its fellow. Some 

 cannot be made to back, others back spontaneousl}' hanging on 

 the halter. Turning short in a circle is difficult or impossible 

 and tends to tlirow tlie patient down. Yet some exceptional 

 cases will turn around spontaneously to tlie right or left, and an 

 animal tied to a post goes around it at the end of its halter in its 

 effort to pass straight forward. The circling movement may be 

 due to the irritation on the one side of the brain or to irritation of 

 particular ganglia and nervous tracts as noticed under cerebral 

 hypersemia. 



Appetite is usually lost, or, more properly, the animal no 

 longer takes notice of surrounding things, not even of its food. 

 In some cases, however, in which stupor or coma is not extreme 

 the animal will eat a little during his quiescent intervals. In 

 ryegrass and other dietetic poisoning, the animal may still eat and 

 fall asleep with the moutli full. The digestion is impaired or 

 suspended, the bowels costive, and fermentations witli tympanies 

 and rumbling are frequent complications. When originating from 

 poisonous food this often contributes to the.se abdominal compli- 

 cations. 



Respirations in the comatose condition are deep and slow, 

 sometimes not more than four or five per minute. The heart 



