114 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



purgatives are indicated. In cases of ana?mia, stimulants, vigoi.*- 

 ous massage, artificial respiration and injection of physiological 

 salt solution are indicated. 



Sunstroke and Heatstroke. — Most writers make no distinc- 

 tion between heatstroke and sunstroke. The latter is caused by 

 the direct rays of the sun falling on the animal, and the former 

 from a high temperature and poor circulation of air in the sur- 

 roundings. Under such conditions, the physical condition of 

 the animal and exertion play an important part in the production 

 of the nervous disturbance. 



The first symptoms usually noted are rapid, labored breath- 

 ing, depression and an anxious expression on the face. The 

 horse usually stops sweating. The body temperature is extremely 

 high, the pulse beats weak, the animal trembles, falls to the 

 ground and dies in a convulsion. Unless measures directed 

 toward relief of the animal are taken early in the attack, death 

 commonly occurs. Overheating is rather common in horses that 

 are worked hard during the extremely warm weather. Horses 

 that have been once overheated are afterwards unable to stand 

 severe work during the hot months of the year. Horses in this 

 condition become unthrifty, do not sweat freely and pant if the 

 work is hard and the weather is warm. 



The preventive measures consist in not exposing animals that 

 are fat, or out of condition to severe exercise if the day is close 

 and hot, especially if they are not accustomed to it. \Vhen hand- 

 ling or working animals during hot weather all possible precau- 

 tions to prevent overheating should be practised. 



The treatment consists in placing the animal in a cool, shady 

 place and fomenting the body with cold water. The cold packs 

 or cold fomentations should be applied to the head and forepart 

 of the body only. Small doses of stimulants may be given. 



Meningo-cerebritis. — The discussion of inflammation of the 

 brain and its coverings can be combined conveniently, as the 

 causes, symptoms and treatment vary but little. This disorder ia 



