642 Acute Non-purulent Encephalitis. 



lowed by a fall. Movements were further disturbed owing to the eyes being affected. 

 Unnatural attitudes were either not corrected at all or only after a time. The 

 animal was capable of swimming, and only now and then turned on its side so that 

 its head went under water. The eye reflexes were exaggerated up to the death of 

 the animal which occurred more than a mouth later. There was no demonstrable 

 loss of muscular power. 



Loss of sensation in circumscribed areas owing to serious 

 disturbances of consciousness is observed with comparative 

 rarity. Exceptionally amaurosis lias been observed (Pr. Mil. 

 Vb., 1897). Dexler saw hyperidrosis in a horse. 



There may be a variable amount of fever and in some cases 

 the temperature may be as high as 41° C, but in the majority of 

 cases it is not so high, and in protracted cases it may be absent 

 altogether. The pulse varies, as a rule, with the temperature. 

 Excitement causes a slight acceleration of the pulse. From the 

 commencement there is some disturbance of appetite, but after 

 the onset of severe symptoms, and even in cases that are appar- 

 ently primary the animal ceases to take food altogether. 



In many cases in the later stages symptoms of meningitis 

 and myelitis set in. The cases of encephalitis recorded by 

 Buckley and MacCallum closely resemble cerebrospinal men- 

 ingitis. 



The diffuse encephalitis seen in cases of distemper, causes a pe- 

 culiar train of symptoms which was described in detail by Nissl, and 

 afterwards by Dexler, whose observations were made on a number of 

 cases. There is a gradually progressive loss of consciousness associated 

 with pronounced local symptoms and severe motor and sensory dis- 

 turl)ances. In the early stages there is dullness, and more rarely a 

 certain amount of restlessness; later, they make no response when 

 called, without showing actual disobedience. They no longer recognize 

 their masters or surroundings, are unable to find places that they are 

 accustomed to, blunder into obstacles, climb over them awkwardly, or 

 remain standing in front of them for hours in a senseless manner, and 

 take up the most uncomforta])le attitudes. They lose their power of 

 finding their way about absolutely, and will not attempt to escape 

 through the open door from a room that is unfamiliar to them. If 

 placed upon something at a height, they either make no attempt to jump 

 down or simply fall off. The sense of smell is dulled, animals breathing 

 ammonia without making any efforts to avoid it. Sounds, which under 

 normal conditions produce an active response, are not noticed. The 

 sleepy condition gradually merges into coma, the primary disturbances 

 of the sense organs being thereby obscured. Owing to the fact that ani- 

 mals will not take any nourishment of their own accord, and possibly 

 owing to other unknown causes, there is rapid loss of condition, and 

 death takes place on an average within a])out one to three months. This 

 condition of dementia should not be termed a psychosis in the true sense 

 of the term ; since it is brought about by organic disease of the brain, 

 and is manifested by local symptoms (Dexler). 



In a ease recorded by Marchand, Basset & Pecard a dog gnawed the lower 

 parts of its hind legs. It wouhl be incorrect to include this among the true forms 

 of mania because a similar condition was set up by Goltz by transverse section of 

 the spinal cord, by Marek by excision of the sciatic nerve, and it is also seen in 

 severe sensory disturbances and even in other cases in which there is no mental 

 disturbance. 



