DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 117 



ENCEPHALITIS STAGGERS. 



Inflammation of the brain and its membranes is technically termed 

 encephalitis, but owing to various symptoms, which no doubt depend 

 much on the particular part affected, the disease is known by different 

 names, such as staggers, stomach staggers, mad staggers, sleepy stag- 

 gers, coma, frenzy, etc. 



Inflammation of the nervous matter comprising the brain, without in- 

 volving the membranes, is a rare disease in cattle, so much so that few 

 authorities notice it as a distinct affection, and then only to point out 

 the fact that it is discovered by post-mortem examination. There are 

 no symptoms exhibited by which it may be positively distinguished 

 from encephalitis the disease involving the membranes as well as the 

 brain and therefore it will be included in this description. 



Causes. Severe blows on the head with a hard object, or the head 

 coming violently in contact with the ground or other hard substance 

 in a fall, may be followed by encephalitis. Irritation caused by tumors 

 in the brain may produce inflammation. Food containing deleterious 

 matters, for example, ergot (see Plate V) and other fungi which con- 

 tain a narcotic principle, is the most frequent cause of this affection, 

 and hence it is often called " grass staggers " and " stomach staggers." 

 In many localities certain plants have the reputation of causing stag- 

 gers. As, for instance, u Elliott's Botany of South Carolina and 

 Georgia," edition of 1821, says : u Atamasco stagger- grass. Gener- 

 ally supposed to be poisonous to cattle and produces the disease in 

 calves called staggers." The writer "can not say that this particular 

 plant (Atamasco Lily Amaryllis atainasco, L.) produces the disease, 

 but he quotes the supposition to add strength to the point that it is 

 generally believed that certain plants do cause it. European authors 

 <l-M-ribe a variety of the disease "arising from the consumption of the 

 refuse of distilleries." When the disease is not caused by direct vio- 

 lence the quality of the food should be suspected. 



fiymptoms. The symptoms vary much, but a careful observer will 

 detect a trouble connected with the nervous system without much un- 

 certainty. The first signs may be those of freii/y, but generally at the 

 start the animal is dull and sleepy, with little or no inclination to 

 move about ; the head may be pressed against the wall or fence and 

 the. legs kept moving, as if the animal were endeavoring to walk through 

 the obstruction ; the body, especially the hind part, may be leaned 

 against the side of the stall or stable, as if for support. The bowels 

 are constipated ; the urine, when passed, is small in quantity ami 

 darker in color than natural. There may be trembling and even 

 spasms of muscles in different parts. In the dull stage the animal may 

 breathe less frequently than natural, ami each breath may be accom- 

 panied with a snoring like sound. The pulse may be large and less fre- 

 quent than normal. If suddenly aroused from the drowsy state the 



