MENINGITIS 147 



INFECTIOUS CEREBRO.SPINAL MENINGITIS 



While there is no tangible evidence to show the specific- 

 ity of any grade of inflammation in the coverings of 

 the braia and spinal cord in Equidae, there is no doubt 

 about the infectious character of certain types of this 

 condition from a clinical standpoint. A type of cerebro- 

 spinal meningitis has on occasions taken on an epizootic 

 character among horses, and enzootic outbreaks of the 

 disease are seen in various parts of the United States 

 almost every year. By far the most cases occur in the 

 spring and in the f aU. Both young and aged horses are 

 affected. 



The disease presents symptoms the severity of which 

 coincides with the extent and gravity of the inflammation 

 in the meninges and with the amount of effusion that 

 occurs as a result of this inflammation. As both the 

 degree of inflammation and the quantity of effusion are 

 variable, so also do the symptoms vary in particular cases 

 from violent, almost maniacal attacks to dull, mediocre 

 or indifferent manifestations. 



In the most active form the disease begins with a high 

 temperature in company with a rather slow, full pulse. 

 There is from the beginning a certain degree of psychic 

 bias. I mean that the horse shows some peculiarity of 

 action, of countenance, of attitude, which can only be 

 attributed to a brain and spinal cord lesion. There de- 

 velop in rapid succession, sometimes simultaneously, dys- 

 phagia, lack of coordination, ' ' staggers, ' ' delirium, decu- 

 bitus and death. Opisthotonos prevails throughout the 

 attack. Saliva drools from the mouth, the horse has dif- 

 ficulty in maintaining a comfortable attitude; he may 

 plunge violently about, fall, and die in convulsions. The 

 onset of symptoms to the end in death may take not more 

 than twenty-four hours. 



