378 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



able amount, which will materially tend to relieve the 

 cerebral and meningeal congestion ; also, cold water may- 

 be constantly applied to the head, and, when possible, a 

 cathartic dose administered. Sometimes croton can be 

 given where more bulky remedial agents are rejected, 

 and the subcutaneous injection of sedative (not narcotic) 

 agents, such as hydrocyanic acid, may be tried, and the 

 tincture of aconite may be administered if possible. 



Diagnosis. — This disease may be confounded with certain 

 abdominal disorders, especially impaction of the omasum. 

 It may be distinguished by its greater acuteness of the 

 symptoms, the presence of acute febrile conditions, and 

 the history of the case. 



Prognosis^ on account of the difficulty in managing 

 the patient, is unfavorable, since we are not even able 

 to adopt proper measures of nursing. 



Post-mortem examination shows a highly congested 

 condition of the membranes and of the brain substance, as 

 denoted by unusual distinctness of the puncta vasculosa ; 

 also, sometimes the brain is softened, and there is fluid 

 in considerable quantity in the arachnoid and subarach- 

 noid spaces. Should the animal recover, there is a 

 liability to recurrence, so that altogether, when this 

 affection is present, the best treatment is to destroy the 

 patient and utilise the carcase. 



Epilepsy — Megrims or Staggers — is only a symptom of 

 disorder, as shown by the varied appearances seen post 

 mortem. Sometimes it is seen in diseases of an ordinary cha- 

 racter, as anaemia, and certain other forms of blood disease. 

 Thus, it is mostly prevalent among young and debilitated 

 animals. Sometimes on autopsy a spiculum of bone is found 

 penetrating the brain, in other cases there are scrofulous 

 or other deposits, and, again, there may be induration of 

 the white matter, with a marbled or rosy colour of the 

 grey, and adhesions of the membranes to the surface 

 (Watson). How far these apply to the conditions in the 

 ox we are not in a position to state, but certainly we find 

 epilepsy associated with irregular blood supply. '^We 

 have in this malady another illustration of the fact that. 



