48 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



toms. This drowsiness may not appear, but if the horse has been 

 subject to it, this will very likely appear. 



Treatment. — It is seldom you are called to treat such a case, but if 

 you are. dash cold water upon the head. After horse has recovered 

 from the attack, give a purgative, followed by bromide of potassium ; 

 keep upon good food, and he may never have another attack, but if 

 due to peculiar formation, he will likely have it again. A peculiar 

 straight-necked horse I think more liable to it than others. Choking 

 may be taken for megrims, from its exhibiting similar symptoms. 



Preventives. — Use cold water to the head, keeping it cool ; some use 

 shade over head in very hot weather. Cerebral tumour may produce it. 



Cerebral Tumours. — These may be found in connection with the 

 choroid plexus. They may be due to a tubercular tendency in the ox. 

 but not in the horse. Hard work may produce them and a very ner- 

 vous temperament may have a tendency to produce them. They may 

 cause various symptoms, such as megrims, inflammation of the brain, 

 etc. They may attain great size, and then interfere with the function 

 of the brain. Nothing can be done for such tumours. You may 

 relieve the symptoms of the nervous system. 



Thickeninir of the Diira«mater. — It is hard to tell just what may 

 cause it, but it is most likely to come from a rheumatic tendency. 



Softenini? of the Brain is seldom met with in the horse. It may 

 be due to certain causes, such as slight inflammatory action, food 

 having a narcotic action, etc., and interfering with the action of the 

 brain, more or less cerebral disturbance, paralysis, dilated pupil, etc. 



Hypertrophy of the brain and oozing of the brain has been noticed. 

 A portion of the brain may be removed, and the animal live. 



Atrophy may also be found, causing partial or complete loss of 

 power, but there are no distinguishing symptoms by which to tell this 

 disease. 



Melanatic Deposits are also found in the brain, a deposit of a dark 

 substance, which we find in the pigment cells, and it is more common 

 in white horses. These tumours have been noticed in the brain and 

 spinal cord. 



Bony Tumours, or Exostosis. — Fibrous tissue develops bone, and 

 you may have them from fibrous tissue. They have been found of 

 considerable size in cattle without disturbing the animal, but they 

 will in time disturb him. It is very difficult to diagnose these differ- 

 ent cases, and say just what is the precise lesion present. 



Concussion of the Spine. — I think this has been well noticed in 

 man, and is likely to be produced by severe injury in the horse, as 

 getting fast, running away, falling over a bank, etc. I do not mean to 

 say that in these you have very well marked symptoms. But in a few 

 hours after receiving the injury the animal shows difficulty in walking 

 without the muscular system being much injured, but I believe that it 

 is from concussion of the spine. Now if you meet with a case, and 

 you suspect this, keep the animal quiet and give laxatives ; feed upon 

 bran; give belladonna, bromide of potassium, and if allowed a good, 

 long rest, the animal may get well ; but if not so treated inflammation 

 comes on, which will be 



Spinitis, and it may be produced in the manner which I have given 

 you ; putting to work too soon after concussion. It is sometimes due 

 to the animal injuring the back, and producing paralysis of the hind 

 quarters. It may be due to severe exertion, or undue nervous excite- 

 ment, and entire horses are more liable to it than mares or geldings. 



