I04 THE HORSE. 



trol, often followed by stupor and coma. When the membranes are 

 much implicated convulsions and delirium with violence may te expect- 

 ed, but where the brain substance is principally affected, stupor and 

 coma will be the most prominent symptoms. When the brain sub- 

 stances is principally affected the pulse will be soft or depressed with 

 sometimes a dilation of pupils and deep, slow, stertorous breathing; but 

 if the membranes are implicated the pulse wHl be quick and hard. The 

 animal may become very violent early in the disease, and by rearing up, 

 striking with the fore-feet or falling over do himself great injury, but 

 usually the animal maintains the standing position, propping himself 

 against the manger, until he falls from inability of muscular control. 



Treatment. See treatment under head "General Treatment for In- 

 flammation of the Various Brain Structures. ' ' 



Meningitis or Mad Staggers of the Old Writers. This is 

 an inflammation of the cerebral envelopes. It is caused by excess of 

 heat or cold, wounds of the skull and its contents, rheumatism, influ- 

 enza, rupture of the blood-vessels of the membrane surrounding the 

 brain. 



Symptoms. In an attack of the acute form the symptoms are often 

 very violent. The animal has violent pains in the head which is indi- 

 cated by the animal flying back in the halter; plunging forward or run- 

 ning ahead, without regard to any obstructions; the pulse is very rapid; 

 the breathing accelerated or panting; the pupils of the eyes contracted; 

 the muscles of the body quivering. These symptoms may develop in a 

 few minutes or in a few hours. If the animal does not get relief, spasms 

 or stiffness of the muscles along one or both sides of the neck or back will 

 become evident; the head will be held up higher than usual; the eye-balls 

 will be drawn back in their sockets; the eye-lids twitch; convulsions and 

 furious delirium will soon appear, followed by coma (insensibility) and 

 death. 



During the whole course of the disease the least noise will seem to 

 bring on violent paroxysms (spasms), which are very marked during 

 the disease. Between these paroxysms there are quiet moments in which 

 the animal seems dull and drowsy. The urine is frequently forced out 

 in spurts and great efforts are made to effect passage of the bowels. 



In the SUB- ACUTE form the symptoms develop more slowly and are 

 less marked by violence. In such attacks the animal may suffer for a 

 week or longer and ultimately recover. 



