514 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



studded here and there with red points. The plexus choroides 

 is large, highly injected, sometimes covered with a thin film of 

 exudation, and the lateral ventricles are filled with fluid. 



In the spinal form of the disease, namely, that characterised 

 by paralysis of the hind extremities, the congestion and effusion 

 are generally limited to the spinal cord and its membranes in the 

 dorso-lumbar region ; the arachnoid space is filled with serosity 

 of a reddish colour ; the pia mater is congested, and the cord itself 

 in a red, softened condition. 



Prognosis. — In the horse the probabilities of recovery are much 

 greater than in oxen and sheep, in which it is very fatal. The 

 recovery in the horse, however, has been slow and protracted, 

 some degree of paralysis in many cases remaining for several 

 weeks after the acute symptoms have passed off. Eecovery may 

 be expected when the symptoms do not become much aggravated 

 during the first day or two, when the delirium is not excessive, 

 and when the coma is not continuous and profound. In the 

 spinal form the animal may fall and be unable to rise, very 

 early in the disease ; this is but of little moment, provided the 

 animal does not struggle much, and work itself into a state of 

 fever and exhaustion. In the cerebral form, inability to retain 

 the standing posture is always a bad sign, more especially if the 

 delirium be continuous. The age of the animal must also be 

 taken into consideration ; the young and strong may recover, 

 the old and debilitated succumb. 



TREATMENT. 



In the early stages, when the pulse is full, and has tone, 

 bleeding has a beneficial effect, by directly unloading the vessels 

 of the brain. Indeed, I have witnessed most marked results 

 from this, the almost unconscious, amaurotic animal regaining 

 its sight and consciousness in a short time. Four, five, six, or 

 even eight quarts can be taken from the jugular with advantage. 

 If, on the contrary, the pulse be feeble, accelerated, as in the 

 later stages of the disease, bleeding only hastens the animal's 

 death, A smart cathartic is always to be administered, and no 

 danger need be apprehended from superpurgation. The purge 

 may be composed of from six to eight drachms of aloes, and a 



