(EREBRO-SPIXAL MENINGITIS. 151 



Causes. — Cerebro-spinal meningitis is said to be produced 

 by atmospheric influences, bad ventilation, etc. Among the 

 exciting causes may be mentioned food and water containing 

 vegetable or animal matter in a decaying or putrid state, 

 which has a toxic effect upon the system, and produces the 

 disease. Professor Smith says : ' In nearly every case I 

 have had, I have been able to trace it to water loaded with 

 vegetable or animal matters in a state of decomposition. 

 Some nine or ten years ago, I recollect a certain establish- 

 ment was visited by a mysterious disease, quickly causing 

 the death of nine or ten horses. All the healthy animals 

 were removed from the town under the impression that it 

 was some very fatal and contagious disease. I was sent by 

 the Government to investigate the outbreak, and found the 

 symptoms of cerebro-spinal meningitis well-marked. The 

 bowels were constipated, urine scanty, etc. The post- 

 mortem showed no very well-marked symptoms. They 

 were drinking water from a well, situated close to the stable, 

 and into which some of the stable drainage ran during^ 

 rains. I warned the owner not to use the water for his. 

 horses. He did not use it again until the following year, 

 when he came to the conclusion that a well he had used 

 water out of for so long could not possibly be of harm to 

 his horses, and, notwithstanding my advice to the contrar}^, 

 he again used it, and very shortly had all his horses affected 

 with cerebro-spinal meningitis. They were also being fed 

 on roots in a state of decomposition.' 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of this disease vary con- 

 siderably, and are governed by the part or parts most 

 severely affected. There is loss of power, which may be 

 suddenly or gradually developed. Anorexia is either par- 

 tial or complete. In some cases at an early stage the tem- 

 perature increases. After a time it decreases ; then, as the 

 disease progresses, it again increases. Spasm and twitching 



