380 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



voluntary movement ; the eyes in an amaurotic condition ; 

 the breathing slow, stertorous, laboured; the surface of 

 the body covered with cold sweat. Often the convulsive 

 movements, rolling of the eyes, and sudden falling may 

 lead to diagnosis of epilepsy, but this will soon be with- 

 drawn, as the case remains in the same condition, or lapses 

 into the quiescent form, or rapidly terminates in death. 

 This results from extension of the pressure to the medulla 

 oblongata, and interference with its functions. It will 

 be observed that the symptoms vary somewhat, according 

 to the seat of the extravasated blood. This condition is 

 sometimes seen in association with fracture of the cranium 

 and with rupture of the blood-vessels such as may also 

 arise from other forms of external injury. 



Treatment consists in free bleeding and administration 

 of a laxative, but is seldom effectual, and the disease is 

 apt to recur. 



Dropsy op the Beain : Hydrocephalus — is the accumula- 

 tion of serous fluid in the cranium, either between or 

 below the membranes of the brain, or else dropsy of the 

 ventricles. The latter condition is said to sometimes occur 

 in adults, but it certainly is very rare. Youatt tells us 

 the symptoms mostly resemble those of apoplexy, but are 

 gradually developed. The former state occurs in the 

 foetus, and causes enormous enlargement of the head and 

 impediment to parturition. The practitioner, when called 

 in, finds the head partly in the generative passage, either 

 the muzzle or forehead projecting with the fore limbs. The 

 enormous cranium is yielding, but must be diminished in 

 bulk by tapping with a trocar and long canula, or by 

 opening with the knife. To give room the fore feet should 

 be secured with ropes and returned into the uterine cavity. 

 When the cranium collapses the calf will readily be 

 expelled, of course dead. The loss is not to be lamented, 

 as it would have done no good, the animal remaining 

 weakly and unthrifty for a short time, and then dying. 

 Youatt gives an interesting case, in which puncture was 

 tried, but tetanus supervened and the animal died. He 

 also mentions that the disease may appear in weakly ani- 



