THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 293 



DISEASES OF THE BRAIN. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN AND ITS MEMBRANES. 



It makes but little difference, so far as our method of treat- 

 ment is concerned, whether the brain or its membranes be the 

 seat of inflammation ; for the treatment in both cases must be 

 the same, and the difference in a pathological point of view 

 cannot be very great betweeft a disease of the brain and its 

 investing membranes, although each may have peculiarities of 

 appearance. 



The affection is generally sudden in its attack, and it is often 

 accompanied by symptoms of phrensy, and the animal some-* 

 times becomes frantic, and decidedly mischievous ; soon, how- 

 ever, alterations in the structure of the parts take place, as 

 softening, effusion, etc., and then the animal dies. 



In regard to the treatment, I must confess that it is much 

 easier to write about it than accomplish it. 



In cases when delirious fits occur, accompanied by convul- 

 sions, which make it dangerous to approach the animal, I have 

 no remedies to offer ; the case is beyond the reach of art. I 

 may, however, add, that the terminations of this disease are 

 different. They depend on the intensity of the malady, and the 

 structural susceptibility. 



The disease is generally treated on the antiphlogistic plan : 

 cold water to the head, active cathartics, and counter irritation 

 on the region of the spine. The causes of a disease of this 

 character are often obscure, yet I have known it to occur as a 

 symptomatic affection. I examined the carcase of an ox, a 

 short time ago, that died of what the owner termed " mad stag- 

 gers.'' I found the brain highly congested, and several ad- 

 hesions between it and its membranes ; there were also large 

 patches, intensely red, on the lining membrane of the third 

 and fourth apartments of the stomach. I was informed by 

 the owner that the animal died twenty-four hours from the 

 time of its first attack. The disease probably originated on 

 the digestive surfaces, in consequence of the irritating nature of 



