194 



In cerebritis, or inflammation of the interior of tlie brain, there is a 

 tendency to softening and suppuration and the formation of abscesses. 

 In some cases the abscesses are small and numerous, surrounded with 

 a softened condition of the brain matter, and sometimes we may And 

 one large abscess. In cases of recent development the walls of the 

 abscesses are fringed and ragged and have no lining membrane. In 

 older or chronic cases, the walls of the abscesses are generally lined 

 with a strong membrane, often having the appearance of a sac or 

 cyst, and the contents have a very ofl!ensive odor. 



Treatment. — In all acute attacks of inflammation involving the mem- 

 branes or cerebral masses, it is the pressure from the distended and 

 engorged blood-vessels, and the rapid accumulation of inflammatory 

 products, that endanger the life of the animal in even the very early 

 stage of the disease. The earlier the treatment is commenced to lessen 

 the danger of fatal j^ressure from the engorged blood-vessels, the less 

 amount of inflammatory j)roducts and efl'usion we have to contend with 

 later on. The leading object then to be accomi)lished in the treatment 

 of the first stages of encephalitis, meningitis, or cerebritis is to relieve 

 the engorgement of the blood-vessels before a dangerous degree of effu- 

 sion or exudation has taken i)lace, and thereby lessen the irritation or 

 excitability of the affected structures. If we fully succeed in this 

 stage in the accomplishment of this object, we certainly j^revent a 

 second stage of the disease, and it will only be required to continue 

 a treatment which will tend to lessen irritability to prevent a second 

 engorgement from taking place. But if the attemiDt to relieve the 

 engoi'gement in the first stage has been only partially successful, and 

 the second stage with its inflammatory products and exudations, 

 whether serous or iDlastic, has set in, then the main objects in further 

 treatment are to keep up the strength of the animal and hasten tlie 

 absorption of the exudative products as much as possible. To obtain 

 these results, when the animal is found in the initial stage of the dis- 

 ease, vrhere there is unnatural excitability or stupor Avith increase of 

 temperature and quickened x^^ikse, Ave must rely upon the safest and 

 quickest acting remedj" at hand, AA^hich is coitions bleeding from the 

 jugular A'ein. Especially in acute meningitis, bleeding is imperatiA'cly 

 demanded. The finger should l)e kept on the pulse, and the blood 

 alloAA'ed to flow until there is a marked fluttering or softening of the 

 pulse. As soon as the animal recoA^ers somewhat fi-om the shock of 

 the bleeding, the folloAA'ing medicine shoidd be made into a ball or 

 dissoh'ed in a pint of AA'arm Avater, and be given at one dose: Barba- 

 does aloes, 7 drams; calomel, 2 drams; poAAclered ginger, 1 dram; 

 tincture of aconite, 20 drops. 



The animal should be placed in a cool, dark place, as free from noise 

 as possible, and cloths Avrung out of hot AA'ater jilaced upon his head. 

 These should be reneAved frequently for at least twelve hours. "When 

 the animal becomes thirsty half an ounce of saltxieter may be dissoh'ed 



