116 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



out and lifting the head occasionally and moving the limbs, but 

 it is unable to rise. Loss of sensibility may gradually progress 

 until the animal becomes semiconscious, or comatose. 



In case the inflammation is acute and involves the greater 

 portion of the brain and its coverings, death occurs within a few 

 days. Occasionally the animal survives several weeks. There 

 are few permanent or complete recoveries. 



The principal lines of treatment are preventive measures" and 

 careful nursing. This is one of the diseases that can be largely 

 prevented by observing all possible sanitary precautions in car- 

 ins for animals. It is admitted bv writers that the greater 

 majority of cases of inflammation of the brain and its coverings 

 are caused by infection. Proper stable construction, ventilation 

 and disposal of the manure, an occasional disinfection of the 

 stable, cleaning and disinfecting the drinking places and water 

 tanks, and the necessary attention to the ration greatly reduce 

 the loss from this disease. 



The animal should be gotten into a dark, quiet, roomy stall 

 that is well bedded. A swing may be placed under a large animal 

 if it is able to support any of its weight, and there is no evidence 

 of nervous excitement. We should do nothing to disturb it. If 

 possible, the position of the animal that is unable to get up should 

 be changed, and the bed kept clean and dry. Cold in the form of 

 wet or ice packs should be applied to the head during the acute 

 stage. Symptoms of excitement must be overcome by large doses 

 of sedatives. Iodide of potassium and strychnine may help in 

 overcoming the paralysis. The bowels should be emptied by 

 giving an occasional physic. A very light, easily digested diet 

 should be fed. 



Partial or Complete Paralysis of the Posterior Portion of 

 the Body. — This disorder is especially common in the small 

 animals. The hog is most frequently affected. 



The following causes may be mentioned: Inflammation of 

 the spinal cord commonly occurs in influenza, strangles and 



