234 KENNEL DISEASES. 
CHRONIC MENINGITIS. 
Inflammation of the membranes of the brain may assume a subacute or a 
chronic form. That is, it may have some resemblance to acute meningitis, or, 
as a chronic affection, differ quite radically from it. 
Chronic meningitis comes on insidiously, and usually its presence is not for a 
long time detected, the symptoms being attributed to some other disease. 
To determine the cause of this affection is difficult, if not quite impossible in 
many cases. Injuries to the head, however, are doubtless largely instrumental 
in exciting it, and now and then it occurs during the course of disease of the 
kidneys, which evidently lays a foundation for it. 
In true epilepsy the existence of chronic meningitis may rightly be suspected 
as the cause of the convulsions. 
Certain diseases may exist within the head for a long time without exciting 
symptoms of trouble. And where there is chronic inflammation of the meninges 
of the brain, the symptoms present may be so confusing that it is not possible to 
determine positively the true nature of the existing disease. 
If a dog’s disposition changes, he gradually grows dull, stupid, and disin 
clined to exertion, sleeps more than usual, has occasional convulsive movements, 
— possibly confined to the mouth, — carries his head low, his eyes become vacant 
in expression, dim in sight or sightless, his movements when on his feet are er- 
ratic, and it is known that sometime in the past he has experienced a severe blow 
on the head, then chronic meningitis may with reason be suspected. These 
symptoms are common to a variety of affections of the brain, but when following 
an injury, the membranes are more often affected than the brain substance. 
The treatment consists of mild laxatives, blisters or setons to the back of the 
head, perfect quiet, nutritious diet, the iodide of potassium in from one to five 
grain doses, three times daily; and possibly after this agent has been used for 
several weeks, strychnia can be wisely substituted. The appetite and general 
condition of the animal will indicate whether quinine and iron need be added to 
the strychnia. 
Unless the patient is valued highly, it were better to sacrifice him as soon 
as it is apparent that he is suffering from chronic meningitis, or indeed from 
any long-standing affection of the brain; for all the chances are that he will 
drift to the end, and treatment, no matter how skilful, will scarcely delay his 
progress, 
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS. 
Cerebro-spinal meningitis, often called spotted fever, is quite different in 
character from the acute form of meningitis already discussed, and is analogous 
