200 



When the symptoms of compression follow other acute diseases of the 

 brain, apoplectic fits, etc., the treatment must be such as the exigen- 

 cies of the case demands. 



CONCUSSION OP THE BRAIN. 



Causes. — This is generally caused ])y an animal falling over back- 

 ward and striking his poll, or perhaps falling forward on his nose; by 

 a blow on the head, etc. 



Symptoms. — Concussion of the brain is characterized b}' giddiness, 

 stupor, insensibility, or loss of muscular power, succeeding immedi- 

 ately upon a blow or severe injury involving the cranium. The ani- 

 mal may r&Wj quickly, or not for hours; death may occur on the spot 

 or after a few days. When there is onh^ slight concussion or stun- 

 ning the animal soon recovers from the shock. When more severe, 

 insensibility may be complete and continue for a considerable time; 

 the animal lies as if in a deep sleep; the pupils are insensible to light; 

 the pulse fluttering or feeble ; the surface of the body cold, muscles 

 relaxed, and the breathing scarcely x>erceptible. After a variable 

 interval partial recovery may take place, which is marked by paraly- 

 sis of some parts of the body, often of a limb, the lips, ear, etc. Con- 

 valescence is usually tedious, and frecxuently permanent impairment 

 of some organs remains. 



Pathologi/. — Concussion produces laceration of the brain, or at least 

 a jarring of the nervous elements, which if not sufficiently severe to 

 produce sudden death may lead to softening or inflammation, with 

 their respective symptoms of functional derangement. 



Treatment. — The first object in treatment will be to establish reac- 

 tion or to arouse the feeble and weakening heart. This can often be 

 accomplished by dashing cold water on the head and body of the ani- 

 mal; frequent injections of weak ammonia water, ginger tea, or oil 

 and turpentine should be given per rectum. In the majority of cases 

 this will soon bring the horse to a state of consciousness. In more 

 severe cases mustard i)oultices should be applied along the si^ine and 

 above the fetlocks. As soon as the animal gains partial consciousness 

 stimulants, in the form of whisky or capsicum tea, should be given. 

 Owing to severity of the structural injury to the brain or the possible 

 rupture of blood-vessels and blood extravasation, the reaction may 

 often be followed by encephalitis or cerebritis, and will then have to 

 be treated accordingly. For this reason the stimulants should not be 

 administered too freely, and they must be abandoned as soon as reac- 

 tion is established. There is no need for further treatment unless com- 

 plications develop as a secondary result. Bleeding, which is so often 

 practiced, proves almost invariably fatal in this form of brain affec- 

 tion. We should also remember that it is never safe to drench a 

 horse with large quantities of medicine when he is unconscious, for 

 he is very liable to draw the medicine into the lungs in inspiration. 



