554 THE DISEASES AND DISOEDERS OF THE OX. 



and furious, struggles violently against restraint of any kind, 

 champs, and gives out a frothy saliva from the mouth. It is 

 highly dangerous to go near such an animal, and in many 

 cases the best plan is to summarily shoot the sufferer before 

 serious damage be done. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 



Inflammalion of the brain, orphrenitis,\?, not very commonly 

 met with among cattle. The fact that acute indigestion, impac- 

 tion of the omasum, or lead-poisoning, frequently give rise to 

 delirium, which is always liable to be put down as a sign of 

 phrenitis, makes this disease appear more general than it really 

 is. However, our readers will recollect that in cases of actual 

 inflammation of the brain there will be a manifestation of acute 

 febrile symptoms. Either the membranes of the brain or the 

 cerebral substance itself may be first attacked with inflammation. 

 In the former case there is always good reason to fear the 

 extension of this process towards the material of the brain. 



When the coverings of the brain are inflamed, spasms, pain, 

 and delirium are shown, the animal is violent, champs the teeth, 

 scrapes, stamps, paws the ground, charges at objects which may 

 be near, displays irregular movements, and more or less extreme 

 convulsions. Sometimes these symptoms make their appearance 

 at the first onset of the attack, and the loss of nerve power, the 

 dull and stupid look, the more or less marked paralysis, the loss 

 of sensation, resulting from the extension of inflammation to the 

 brain itself come on later. 



The disease is more particularly prevalent in hot countries and 

 in hot seasons, especially if there has been a sudden change from 

 cold to heat. The malady makes its appearance, especially among 

 working oxen, and those which are plethoric. The disease, 

 fortunately, is not so often met with as it used to be, owing 

 doubtless to the facts that there is less over-driving, and that 

 more care is taken of animals generally. A blow, producing 

 concussion of the brain and perhaps fracture of the skull, or the 

 eating of the refuse of alcohol distilleries, and perhaps even of 

 ergotised grasses, or the growth of tumours in the brain, may all 

 apparently bring on this disease. 



Symptoms. — At first there is acute congestion, and this is 

 followed by severe inflammation. The animal appears sleepy or 



