MBNINGISM 69 



In the beginning, a few large doses of hexamethylena- 

 min often prove very beneficial. A two-dram dose can 

 be given freely diluted with water, until at least three 

 doses have been given, allowing two or three hours to 

 elapse between doses. The intestinal activity should be 

 encouraged by repeated small doses of fluid extract of 

 cascara sagrada, or by small doses of magnesium sulphate. 



In those eases in which the initial symptoms are marked 

 by a tendency to move forward and by pushing the head 

 against objects, blood-letting gives fine immediate results. 

 The patients should be kept in dry, warm and roomy 

 quarters and should have free access to fresh water. 



In most cases of meningism, during the course of 

 which the animal assumes a recumbent position and then 

 is unable to rise, the animal will gain the standing posi- 

 tion with slight assistance, such as lifting at the tail. 



Those cases in which the lack of coordination persists 

 after all other signs of the disease have disappeared 

 should receive a prolonged course of treatment with iodid 

 of potassium. If the progress towards improvement is 

 slow, Fowler's solution of arsenic should be alternated 

 with the iodid of potassium. The iodid can be given 

 for a week and then a week of arsenic administration. 

 This should be continued until improvement is evident, 

 after which the iodid of potassium is to be given alone 

 until the recovery is complete. While under this treat- 

 ment for the correction of the coordinative loss the animal 

 should have light exercise. In a few cases complete recov- 

 ery seems impossible. If recovery has not taken place 

 after four or five weeks of potassium iodid treatment, 

 the ease is usually incurable. 



The differential diagnostic mark between meningism 

 and true cerebro-spinal meningitis is the lack of opis- 

 thotonic fixation of the body. In true inflammatory con- 

 ditions of the meninges, opisthotonos occurs when the 



