202 liUliEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTKY. 



the animal soon recovers from the shock. When more severe, insen- 

 sibility may be complete and continue for a considerable time; the 

 animal lies as if in a deep sleep; the pupils are insensible to light; 

 the pulse fluttering or feeble; the surface of the body cold, muscles 

 relaxed, and the breathing scarcely perceptible. After a variable 

 interval partial recovery ma}^ take place, which is marked by paralysis 

 of some parts of the bod}', often of a limb, the lips, ear, etc. Conva- 

 lescence is usually tedious, and frequently permanent impairment of 

 some organs remains. 



PatJwlogy. — Concussion produces laceration of the brain, or at least 

 a jarring of the nervous elements, which if not sufficiently sevei"e to 

 produce sudden death msij lead to softening or inflammation, with 

 their respective symptoms of functional derangement. 



Treatment. — The first object in treatment will be to establish reac- 

 tion or to arouse the feeble and weakening heart. This can often be 

 accomplished b}^ dashing cold water on the head and body of the ani- 

 mal; frequent injections of weak ammonia water, ginger tea, or oil and 

 turpentine should be given per rectum. In the majoritj'' of cases this 

 will soon bring the horse to a state of consciousness. In more severe 

 cases mustard poultices should be applied along the spine and above 

 the fetlocks. As soon as the animal gains partial consciousness stimu- 

 lants, in the form of whisk}' or capsicum tea, should be given. Owing 

 to severity of the structural injury to the brain or the possible rupture 

 of blood vessels and blood extravasation, the reaction may often be fol- 

 lowed by encephalitis or cerebritis, and will then have to be treated 

 accordingly-. For this reason the stimulants should not be adminis- 

 tered too f reel}', and they must be abandoned as soon as reaction is 

 established. There is no need for further treatment unless complica- 

 tions develop as a secondary result. Bleeding, which is so often prac- 

 ticed, proves almost invariably fatal in this form of brain affection. 

 We should also remember that it is never safe to drench a horse with 

 large quantities of medicine when he is unconscious, for he is very 

 liable to draw the medicine into the lungs in inspiration. 



Prevention. — Young horses, when harnessed or bitted for the first 

 few times, should not have their heads checked up high, for it fre- 

 quently causes them to rear up, and, being unable to control their bal- 

 ance, they are liable to fall over sideways or backwards, thus causing 

 brain concussion when they strike the ground. 



ANEMIA OF THE BllAIN. 



This is a physiological condition in sleep. 



Causes. — It is considered a disease or may give rise to disease when 

 the circulation and blood supply of the brain are interfered with. In 

 some diseases of the heart the brain becomes anemic, and fainting fits 

 occur, Avith temporar}- loss of consciousness. Tumors growing within 



