186 



menivgifis the symptoms will develop more slowly and be less ^marked 

 by violeuce. The sensory functions may not be much interfered with 

 until the near approach of death. In such attacks the animal may 

 suffer for a week or longer and ultimately recover. In meningitis the 

 temperature varies from 103° to 107° F., according to the severity of 

 the attack. 



The violent symptoms of this disease must not be confounded with 

 those of rabies. In the latter the violence is directed at some object or 

 upon the animal himself; in the former no malice is shown toward the at- 

 tendant or surrounding objects, but is simply the manifestation of ex- 

 cruciating pain in the head. Meningitis may be distinguished from 

 encephalitis and cerebritis by the absence of marked localized paralytic 

 symptoms, or of coma, until the near approach of death. It is charac- 

 terized by violence, increased sensibility, and delirium. 



CEBEBRITIS— INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN SUBSTANCE. 



Causes.— The causes giving rise to this disease are very numerous. 

 Among them may be mentioned all those named heretofore as causing 

 encephalitis and meningitis, cystic and calcareous tumors, thrombi, 

 uraemic poisoning, metastatic abscesses, septic infection, etc. 



Symptoms. — Cerebritis, when unaccompanied by other disease, is sel- 

 dom recognized as such during life. It is always localized in extent, 

 and the symptoms manifested depend upon the location of the organic 

 change for their character. The symptoms, therefore, are as varied as 

 the causes; they are usually of slow development and persistent. Ver- 

 tigo or giddiness may be regarded as a constant symptom. The ani- 

 mal may stop on the road, shake his head, or stagger, apparently un- 

 decided in what direction to go. There may be contraction of the pu- 

 pils, cramp of the muscles on the side of the neck or face, pulse small 

 and hard and variable in frequency, often, however, slower than normal. 

 The temperature is slightly increased, the respirations may be slow and 

 deep, the appetite capricious, bowels constipated; rapid emaciation is 

 a common symptom. Such conditions may be apparent for a week or 

 two weeks; then the horse may become comatose. The pupils dilate, 

 the pulse becomes intermitting, swallowing difficult, the muscles which 

 were previously rigid become relaxed and paralyzed, and the urine may 

 either be retained or be discharged involuntarily. In this way the ani- 

 mal may survive another week and then die in a paralyzed and uncon- 

 scious state. Not infrequently, however, few of those symptoms are 

 manifested, for in some cases the paralysis is sudden from extensive 

 lesions of the brain, and the animal may die within twenty-four hours. 



SOFTENING AND ABSCESS OF THE BRAIN. 



This is one of the terminations of cerebritis. It may also be due to 

 an insufficient supply of blood as a result of diseased cerebral arteries 

 and of apoplexy. 



