88 RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



TREATMENT 



In such cases bleeding should be resorted to immediately. 

 When the power of swallowing is not lost, purgatives should be 

 administered. Cold applications to the head should be made. 



CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN 



Severe blows on the head, striking the head against some hard 

 object while running, or falling on the head, may cause concussion 

 of the brain. 



SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT 



The symptoms and the treatment that is indicated differ very little 

 from what has been said under congestion of the brain. In some cases 

 it may be necessary to remove a piece of bone that is pressing on the 

 brain or to remove a clot of blood under the area that received the 

 blow. 



EPILEPSY 



This affection is characterized by the occurrence of sudden con- 

 vulsions. The animal may appear to be in a fair state of health 

 usually, but at any time, in the stable or in the field, it may have a 

 convulsion in which it will fall and lose consciousness. Epilepsy 

 must not be confounded with vertigo — fainting which is an effect 

 of heart troubles. 



The exact cause of epilepsy in the majority of cases is unknown. 

 Post mortem examinations in many instances have failed to discover 

 any lesion in connection with the brain or nervous system ; while in 

 other instances disease of the brain has been found in the form of 

 thickening of the membranes, abscesses, and tumors. In some cases 

 the affection has been manifested in connection with a diseased con- 

 dition of the blood. The cause has also been traced to reflex irrita- 

 tion, due to teething, worms and chronic indigestion. 



TREATMENT 



When the affection is due to the last named causes the treat- 

 ment may be successful, if the cause is removed. If there are 



