194 



relaxed, and the breathing scarcely perceptible. After a variable in- 

 terval partial recovery may take place, which is marked by paralysis 

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

 valescence is usually tedious, and frequently permanent impairment 

 of some organs remains. 



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

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

 produce sadden 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 en the head and body of the 

 animal; 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 poultices should be applied along the 

 spine and above the fetlocks. As soon as the animal gains i)artial 

 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 jiossible rupture of blood-vessels and blood extravasa- 

 tion, 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 reaction is established. There is no need for 

 further treatment unless complications develop as a secondary result. 

 Bleeding, which is so often practiced, proves almost invariably fatal in 

 this form of brain attection. We should also remember that it is never 

 safe to drench a horse with large quantities of medicine when he is un- 

 conscious, for he is very liable to draw the medicine into the lungs in 

 inspiration. 



Prevention. — "Young horses, when harnessed or bitted for the first few 

 times, should not have their heads checked up high, for it frequently 

 causes them to rear up, and, being unable to control their balance, they 

 are liable to fall over sideways or backwards, thus causing brain con- 

 cussion when they strike the ground. 



ANEMIA OF THE BEAIN. 



This is a physiological condition in sleep. 



Causes. — It is considered a disease or may give rise to disease when 

 the circulation and blood su^jply of the brain are interfered with. In 

 some diseases of the heart the brain becomes anaemic, and fainting fits 

 occur, with temporary loss of consciousness. Tumors growijig within 

 the cranium may jjress ui)on one or more arteries and stop the supply 

 of blood to certain parts of the brain, thus inducing anamia, ultimately 

 atrophy, softening, or sui>puration. Probably the most frequent cause 

 is found in plugging or occlusion of the arteries by a blood-clot. 



