DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 201 



pressure of the liberated blood. In small extravasations producing 

 local paralysis without marked general disturbance, the animal may 

 recover after a time; in such cases gradual absorption of the clot takes 

 place. In large clots atrophy of the brain substance may follow, or 

 softening and abscess from want of nutrition may result, and render 

 the animal worthless, ultimately resulting in death. 



Treatment. — Place the animal in a quiet, cool place and avoid all stinui- 

 lating food. Administer, in his drinking water or feed, 2 drams of the 

 iodide of potassa twice a day for several weeks if necessary. Medical 

 interference with sedatives or stimulants is more apt to be harmful than 

 of benefit, and bloodletting in an apoplectic fit is extremel}^ hazardous. 

 From the fact that cerebral apoplexy is due to diseased or weakened 

 blood vessels, the animal remains subject to subsequent attacks. 



COMPRESSION OF THE BRAIN. 



Causes. — In injuries from direct violence apiece of broken bone may 

 press upon the brain, and, according to its size, the brain is robbed of 

 its normal space within the cranium. It may also be due to an extrava- 

 sation of blood or to exudation in the subdural or arachnoid spaces. 

 Death from active cerebral congestion results through compression. 

 The occurrence may sometimes be traced to the direct cause, which 

 will give assurance for the correct diagnosis. 



Symptoms. — Impairment of all the special senses and localized paraly- 

 sis. All the sj'mptoms of lessened functional activity of the brain are 

 manifested to some degree. The paralysis remains to be our guide for 

 the location of the cause, for it will be found that the paralysis occurs 

 on the opposite side of the body from the location of the injury, and 

 the parts suffering paral3"sis will denote, to an expert veterinarian or 

 ph3^sician, the part of the brain which is suffering compression. 



Treatment. — Trephining, by a skillful operator, for the removal of 

 the cause when due to depressed bone or the presence of foreign bodies. 

 When the s3miptoms of compression follow other acute diseases of the 

 brain, apoplectic fits, etc., the treatment must be such as the exigencies 

 of the case demands. 



CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN. 



Causes. — This is generally caused by an animal falling over back- 

 ward and striking his poll, or perhaps falling forward on his nose; by 

 a blow on the head, etc. Train accidents during shipping often cause 

 concussion of the brain. 



Symptoms. — Concussion of the brain is characterized by giddiness, 

 stupor, insensibility, or loss of muscular power, succeeding immediately 

 upon a blow or severe injury involving the cranium. The animal 

 ma}" rall}^ quickly, or not for hours; death may occur on the spot or 

 after a few da\'s. When there is only slight concussion or stunning 



