30 INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 



upon other diseases. It may spring" from metastasis, 

 or change of inflammation from one organ to another. 

 Inflammation has suddenly left the bowels, the foot, or 

 the lungs, and attacked the head ; but this disorder is 

 oftener connected with some affection of the stomach. 



A distinction should be drawn between inflamma- 

 tion of the brain and congestion of that organ. In 

 the latter case the activity is decreased ; consciousness, 

 if not entirely lost, is in a great measure gone. During 

 the first symptoms of compression of the brain the 

 horse is dull, hanging his head as if he were half 

 asleep. In the midst of eating, a lethargy will come 

 over him; he will droop his head, with his tongue 

 hanging out of his mouth, the saliva dribbling from it, 

 and he will stagger or almost fall. If he is suddenly 

 roused, he will look vacantly around him, and dose 

 again. If he falls, he will appear to be frightened and 

 scramble up, but it will only be to stagger and to fall 

 again. This state is caused by determination of blood 

 to the head, pressing upon the source of the nerves, 

 and producing unconsciousness. 



This continues for twelve or for twenty-four hours, 

 and sometimes even longer. Then the scene suddenly 

 changes. The nature of the disorder has altered, and to 

 congestion inflammation has succeeded. The horse is 

 all alive ; his ears are pricked ; his eyes are glaring ; 

 he is shifting his posture every moment, pawing and 

 stamping. For a little while he seems to know where 

 he is and what he is about, but that soon passes over : 

 his flanks heave ; his nostrils expand ; he whinnies, 

 roars, dashes, plunges, bites, and kicks, without ob- 

 ject and without consciousness. There are periods of 



