216 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



the walls of the abscesses are fringed and ragged and have no lining 

 membrane. In older or chronic cases the walls of the abscesses are 

 generally lined with a strong membrane, often having the appearance 

 of a sac or cyst, and the contents have a very offensive odor. 



Treatment. — In all acute attacks of inflammation involving the 

 membranes or cerebral masses, it is the pressure from the distended 

 and engorged blood vessels and the rapid accumulation of inflanmaa- 

 tory products that endangers the life of the animal in even the very 

 early stage of the disease. The earlier the treatment is commenced to 

 lessen the danger of fatal pressure from the engorged blood vessels, 

 the less effusion and smaller number of inflammatory products we 

 have to contend with later. The leading object, then, to be accom- 

 plished in the treatment of the first stage of encephalitis, meningitis, 

 or cerebritis, and before a dangerous degree of effusion or exudation 

 has taken place, is to relieve the engorgement of the blood vessels and 

 thereby lessen the irritation or excitability of the affected structures. 

 If the attempt to relieve the engorgement in the first stage has been 

 only partially successful, and the second stage, with its inflammatory 

 products and exudations, whether serous or plastic, has set in, then 

 the main objects in further treatment are to keep up the strength of 

 the animal and hasten the absorption of the exudative products as 

 much as possible. To obtain these results, when the animal is found 

 in the initial stage of the disease, if there is unnatural excitability or 

 stupor with increase of temperature and quickened pulse, we should 

 apply cold to the head in the form of cold water or ice. For this pur- 

 pose cloths or bags may be used, and they should be renewed as often 

 as necessary. If the disease is still in its early stages -and the animal 

 is strong, bleeding from the jugular vein ma}' be beneficial. Good 

 results are to be expected only during the stage of excitement, while 

 there is a strong, full pulse and the mucous membranes of the head 

 are red from a plentiful supply of blood. The finger should be kept 

 on the pulse and the blood allowed to flow until there is distinct 

 softening of the pulse. As soon as the animal recovers somewhat 

 from the shock of the bleeding the following medicine should be 

 made into a ball or dissolved in a pint of warm water and be given 

 at one dose: Barbados aloes, 7 drams; calomel, 2 drams; powdered 

 ginger; 1 dram ; tincture of aconite, 20 drops. 



The animal should be placed in a cool, dark place, as free from 

 noise as possible. When the animal becomes thirsty half an ounce 

 of bromid of potash may be dissolved in the drinking water every 

 six hours. Injections, of warm water into the rectum may facilitate 

 the action of the purgative. Norwood's tincture of veratrum viride, 

 in 20-drop doses, should be given every hour and 1 dram of solid 

 extract of belladonna every four hours until the symptoms become 

 modified and the pulse regular and full. 



