DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. 117 



HYDROPHOBIA. 



Synonym.— Eabies. 



This disease is considered to originate nearly always with dogs, but 

 seldom "with the feline race. 



Etiology. — In the horse, always the bite of an infected animal. 



Symptoms. — The disease is manifested in a variety of Avays. In 

 some cases it commences by great apparent distress, with sudden perspi- 

 rations over the body; unruliness, the horse stamping and pawing violent- 

 ly, finally becoming frantic, and destroying everything within its reach. 

 In other cases, along with restlessness, there is manifested a desire to bite 

 the seat of injury. 



In the stallion and mare it is stated that the sexual desire is aug- 

 mented; that the stallion has frequent erections, and neighs in a harsh 

 tone, and the mare stands with her hind legs apart, showing signs of 

 oestrum. 



Treatment. — Can only be preventive. Shave off the hair about the 

 injured part, so as to surely find any scratch, and cauterize the wounds 

 with nitrate of silver. If the wounds are deep, they should be freely ex- 

 cised before the application of the caustic. It is not every horse bitten 

 by a rabid animal to whicli the disease is communicated, and while it 

 requires only a few weeks in some cases for the symptoms to show them- 

 selves, it may be several months, and perhaps it may never appear. It 

 is, therefore, best to keep a bitten horse quiet for a month or two after 

 he has received the suspected injuries. Place him in a loose box, feed 

 him well, but moderately, and give him gentle exercise. If the symptoms 

 ajDpear, the horse should be shot without unnecessary delay, both to save 

 him from intense suffering and to avoid any injury he might do to his 

 surroundings in his spasms of frenzy. There is no cure for the disease. 



EPIZOOTIC CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS. 



Synonyms. — Spotted fever; Putrid fever; Cold plague. 



Definition. — This form of disease is characterized by inflammation 

 of the membranes and surface of the brain and spinal cord. It is an 

 epidemic non-contagious disease, and is usually very malignant. 



