352 VETERINARY LECTURES 



576. Prevention.— Seeing that the disease originates from a tape- 

 worm in the dog, the method of prevention is obvious. Dogs must 

 either be kept off the pastures or else they ought to have periodical 

 doses of worm medicine, and while under treatment it is well to 

 keep them closely shut up. The heads and brains of diseased sheep 

 should be burnt instead of being given to the dogs, as is generally 

 the case. Applications of salt to the pastures also have a good 

 effect. 



577. Concussion of the Brain, due to a severe blow or injury 

 to the head, is, in the horse, generally the result of the animal rear- 

 ing up and falling over backwards, or of running away and coming 

 suddenly in contact with some obstruction. When there is no frac- 

 ture or displacement of the bones, the horse may lie quiet (stunned) 

 for a short while, and then, regaining consciousness, get up and 

 seem none the worse. In these cases care must be used, and the 

 animal kept perfectly quiet for a few days ; little or no food is to 

 be given for the first twenty-four hours, and then feed sparingly for 

 a few days after with easily digested food. In other cases the animal 

 may lie motionless, with little or no sensation, the eye rolling about 

 with the pupil dilated, pulse small and quick, and breathing slow 

 and heavy. These symptoms may last for three or four days, after 

 which the patient begins to show signs of consciousness by attempt- 

 ing to raise its head, and if assisted to a recumbent position (by the 

 attendant placing his knee behind the horse's shoulder), it may drink 

 a few mouthfuls of cold water. With such a case there is a chance 

 of recovery, provided that from the time of the accident the patient 

 has had every attention, having been carefully turned over from side 

 to side every six or eight hours, and well bedded with clean, dry 

 straw, the urine removed with the catheter, and the rectum emptied 

 by the hand every eight hours, a good dose of opening medicine 

 having been given at the outset — viz., 4 to 6 drachms of aloes dis- 

 solved in I pint of hot water, along with 12 to 20 ounces of linseed 

 oil. When the animal shows signs of recovery by endeavouring to 

 rise, it should be carefully lifted on to its feet by the aid of slings 

 and chain-blocks. After the first few minutes' struggle in attempt- 



