388 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Prevention. In very hot weather horses should have wet 

 sponges or light sunshades on the head when at work, or the head 

 may be sponged with cold water as many times a day as possible. 

 Proper attention should be given to feeding and watering, never in 

 excess. During the warm months all stables should be cool and well 

 ventilated, and if an animal is debilitated from exhaustive work or 

 disease he should receive such treatment as will tend to build up the 

 system. Horses should be permitted to drink as much water as they 

 want while they are at work during hot weather. An animal which 

 has been affected with sunstroke is very liable to have subsequent 

 attacks when exposed to the necessary exciting causes. 



APOPLEXY, OR CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE. 



Apoplexy is often confounded with cerebral congestion, but 

 true apoplexy always consists in rupture of cerebral blood vessels, 

 with blood extravasation and formation of blood clot. Two causes 

 are involved in the production of apoplexy, the predisposing and the 

 exciting. The predisposing cause is degeneration, or disease which 

 weakens the blood vessel ; the exciting cause is any one which tends 

 to induce cerebral congestion. 



Symptoms. Apoplexy is characterized by a sudden loss of 

 sensation and motion, profound coma, and stertorous and difficult 

 breathing. The action of the heart is little disturbed at first, but 

 soon becomes slower, then quicker and feebler, and after a little 

 time ceases. If the rupture is one of a small artery and the ex- 

 travasation limited, sudden paralysis of some part of the body is the 

 result. The extent and location of the paralysis depend upon the 

 location within the brain which is functionally deranged by the pres- 

 sure of the extravasated blood ; hence these conditions are very vari- 

 able. In the absence of any premonitory symptoms or an increase 

 of temperature in the early stage of the attack, we may be reasonably 

 certain in making the distinction between this disease and conges- 

 tion of the brain, or sunstroke. 



Pathology. In apoplexy there is generally found an atherom- 

 atous condition of the cerebral vessels, with weakening and degenera- 

 tion of their walls. When a large artery has been ruptured it is 

 usually followed by immediate death, and large rents may be found 

 in the cerebrum, with great destruction of brain tissue, induced by 

 the forcible pressure of the liberated blood. In small extravasations 

 producing local paralysis without marked general disturbance, the 

 animal may recover after a time ; in such cases gradual absorption of 

 the clot takes place. In large clots atrophy of the brain substances 

 may follow, or softening and abscess from want of nutrition may re- 

 sult, and render the animal worthless, ultimately resulting in death. 



Treatment. Place the animal in a quiet, cool place and avoid 

 all stimulating food. Administer, in his drinking water or feed, 2 

 drams of the iodide of potassa twice a day 'for several weeks if neces- 

 sary. Medical interference with sedatives or stimulants is more apt 

 to be harmful than of benefit, and bloodletting in an apoplectic fit is 

 extremely hazardous. From the fact that cerebral apoplexy is due 



