384 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Cerebral sclerosis sometimes follows inflammation in the struc- 

 ture of the brain affecting the connective tissues, which eventually 

 become hypertrophied and press upon nerve cells and fibers, caus- 

 ing their ultimate disappearance, leaving the parts hard. This con- 

 dition gives rise to a progressive paralysis and may extend along a 

 certain 'bundle of fibers into the spinal cord. Complete paralysis 

 almost invariably supervenes and causes death. 



Treatment. In all acute attacks of inflammation involving 

 the membranes or cerebral masses, it is the pressure from the dis- 

 tended and engorged blood vessels and the rapid accumulation of 

 inflammatory 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 amount of inflammatory products and effusion 

 we have to contend with later on. The leading object, then, to be 

 accomplished in the treatment of the first stages of encephalitis, 

 meningitis, or cerebritis is to relieve the engorgement of the blood 

 vessels before a dangerous degree of effusion or exudation has taken 

 place, 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 plas- 

 tic, 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 exu- 

 dative products as much as possible. To obtain these results, when 

 the animal is found in the initial stage of the disease, where 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 purpose 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 may 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 plen- 

 tiful 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 bromide of potash may be dissolved in his drinking water 

 every six hours. Injections of warm water into the rectum may 

 facilitate the action of the purgative. If this treatment fails to give 

 relief, the disease will pass into the advanced stages, or, if the ani- 

 mal has been neglected in the early stages, the treatment must be 

 supplanted, with the hypodermic injection of ergotin, in 5-grain 

 doses, dissolved in 1 dram of water, every six hours. The limbs 



