152 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



of the muscles may be observed, sometimes of the posterior 

 extremities ; and in other cases the muscles of the head and 

 neck are affected, and symptoms of trismus are sometimes 

 presented. The disease sometimes appears in an epizootic 

 form. In very severe cases the animal reels about, falls, 

 and is unable to rise, although he makes the most frantic en- 

 deavours to do so. The bowels are constipated, the urine is 

 scanty, and there is an abnormally reddened condition of the 

 iris, which may be detected by using the ophthalmoscope. 

 In some cases well-marked cerebral disturbance is manifested, 

 the animal is dull and drowsy, and becomes comatose ; this 

 gives place to slight delirium, convulsions, and death. 



Having had very little experience with this disease, I feel 

 that I cannot do better than to again quote the observations 

 of Professor Smith, who probably has had as great or greater 

 experience with this disease than any other veterinarian. 

 Professor Smith says : ' I have noticed as a symptom of the 

 sporadic form of cerebro-spinal meningitis that the power of 

 deglutition is lost. This symptom is never met with in the 

 enzootic form of the disease. In Canada it generally occurs 

 in a sporadic form, and the nerve centres are affected ; the 

 pneumogastric nerve is interfered with in its functions^ and 

 the power of deglutition is lost. This is one of the prin- 

 cipal and most prominent symptoms exhibited. We often 

 hear of a number of horses becoming affected with some 

 disease which runs a quick course and terminates in death. 

 On making a loost-mortem examination the disease is usually 

 found to be cerebro-spinal meningitis. The symptoms of 

 the sporadic form are as follows : Dulness of the animal is 

 usually the first observable symptom. The bowels are con- 

 stipated, and the patient exhibits great thirst, and on being 

 given water will apparently drink heartily; but on close 

 observation being made it is seen that he is unable to 

 swallow, although making every effort to do so. Where 



