CEREBRO-SPIXAL MENINGITIS. 153 



loss of the power of deglutition is well marked the prog- 

 nosis should be unfavourable. On opening the mouth and 

 making an examination it is found to be cool, and in a per- 

 fectly normal condition so far as can be ascertained, and on 

 account of the inability to swallow, the practitioner may be 

 led to believe that some obstruction is present, and passage 

 of the probang may be tried, which, on account of loss of 

 power of the parts, may prove to be a matter of some 

 difficulty. The ears are colder than natural, and the tem- 

 perature is lower than normal, unless it be towards the 

 latter stages of the disease, when it may be elevated ; the 

 pulse is slow and weak. These symptoms may last for 

 twenty-four or forty-eight hours. In other cases symptoms 

 of abdominal pain are manifested, the patient falls or lies 

 down, and remains down for ten or fifteen hours, and will 

 not rise unless whipj^ed severely, or considerable force 

 otherwise is brought to bear. In other cases the standing 

 posture will be persistently maintained, and as a rule the 

 disease will run its course to a fatal termination in from 

 two to four days. Strabismus, or cross eyes, is also often 

 present as a symptom of cerebro-spinal meningitis. 



Post-mortem. — The brain and spinal cord are found to be 

 congested, and in some cases considerable effusion is found 

 to have taken place. There is exudation in connection with 

 the intestines, and if the animal has been lying down for a 

 long time there will be hypostatic congestion of the side he 

 has been lying upon. In most cases the congestion of the 

 brain and cord is well marked, and as a rule the bowels are 

 found nearly or quite empty. It is possible for death to 

 occur, however, without any well marked post-mortem lesions 

 being presented. 



Treatment. — Where there is complete loss of power it is 

 invariably fatal. If you get the caseJ early, change the 

 quarters to a nice box. Use belladonna, or give atropine 



