DISEASES OF CATTLE 131 



the head, the congestion and extravasated blood may be found inside 

 of the cavity in the location corresponding to the place where the in- 

 jury was inflicted externally. In some cases pus is also discovered. 

 It remains to be said that in all animals that have died from this 

 affection the lungs are found very much congested. This may lead 

 the superficial observer to suppose that the disease was a lung affec- 

 tion, but in fact it is only a natural consequence when death ensues 

 from brain disease. 



APOPLEXY. 



That form of congestion of the brain known as parturient apo- 

 plexy, or parturient paresis, which is so frequently associated with 

 the period of calving, is described in another part of this work. (See 

 "Milk Fever.") 



Cerebral apoplexy, not connected with parturition, is a rare dis- 

 ease among cattle. However, it may be due to degeneration and con- 

 sequent rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. 



CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN. 



Severe blows on the head, striking the head against some hard 

 object while running, or falling on the head, may cause concussion 

 of the brain. The injury may fracture bones of the cranium and 

 produce compression of the brain. 



EPILEPSY. 



This affection is characterized by the occurrence of sudden con- 

 vulsions. The animal may appear to be in a fair state of health usu- 

 ally, but at any time, in the stable or in the field, it may have a con- 

 vulsion in which it will fall and lose consciousness. Epilepsy must 

 not be confounded with vertigo the fainting which is an effect of 

 heart troubles. 



The exact cause of epilepsy in the majority of cases is unknown. 

 Post-mortem examinations in many instances have failed to discover 

 any lesion in connection with the brain or nervous system ; while in 

 other instances disease of the brain has been found in the form of 

 thickening of the membranes, abscesses, and tumors, and in some 

 cases the affection has been manifested in connection with a diseased' 

 condition of the blood. The cause has also been traced to reflex irri- 

 tation, due to teething, worms, and chronic indigestion. 



Treatment. When the affection is due to the last-named causes 

 treatment may be successful if the cause is removed. If there are 

 symptoms of worms or of indigestion, follow the general treatment 

 advised for those troubles under their proper heads. If due to irrita- 

 tion caused by teething, the inflamed gums must be lanced. Exami- 

 nation of the mouth often develops the fact that one of the temporary 

 teeth causes much irritation by remaining unshed, and thereby inter- 

 fering with the growth of a permanent tooth. The offending tooth 

 should be extracted. When the cause of epilepsy can not be dis- 

 covered, it must be confessed that there is no prospect of a cure. 

 However, some benefit may be expected from the occasional admin- 

 istration of a purgative dose of medicine. A pound of Epsom salts 

 dissolved in a quart of warm water, for a cow of average size, may be 

 given as a drench once or twice a month. In addition to the purga- 



