ANEMIA OF THE BRAIN AND ITS MEMBRANES 231 



ANEMIA OF THE BRAIN AND ITS MEMBRANES. 



Etiology. — ^Wliere the body has suffered a sudden loss of a 

 quantity of blood, or where a rush of blood from the brain 

 to other organs occurs, an acute anemia of the brain results. 

 Examples of the latter instance are furnished when large 

 quantities of exudate or transudate are removed too rapidly 

 from a body cavity (hydrothorax, ascites) or large amounts 

 of gas from the bowels. Acute heart weakness or a general 

 dilatation of the bloodvessels, as is sometimes associated 

 with severe infections and many poisons, will also produce 

 acute anemia. 



A chronic anemia of the brain accompanies general anemia, 

 specific diseases of the blood (leukemia), increased intra- 

 cranial pressure, and very rarely results from compression 

 or thrombosis of the carotids. 



Symptoms. — ^Acute anemia of the brain produces disturb- 

 ance in consciousness. The animal walks with a staggering 

 gait, finally falling to the ground as if lifeless. Vomiting 

 animals may vomit. The mucous membranes are very pale, 

 the pupils dilated, the pulse rapid and threadlike, the respi- 

 rations either slow and deep or accelerated and superficial. 

 In severe cases the syncope may be interrupted by convul- 

 sions and the death of the patient. In milder cases the 

 animal returns gradually to consciousness, remains for a time 

 stupid and languid, and with a tendency to relapses. 



Chronic brain anemia usually produces no symptoms, as 

 the condition develops gradually, the brain adapting itself 

 to it. ^ 



Prognosis. — -The prognosis varies with the cause. li In 

 acute cases as long as the pupil reacts to light recovery is 

 probable. On the other hand, if there is no reaction, and 

 especially if the patient shows symptoms of convulsions, the 

 prognosis is bad. 



Treatment. — Stimulating agents are recommended, such as 

 rubbing the surface of the body; allowing the patient to 

 inhale fimies of ammonia; subcutaneous injections of ether, 

 caffein, or oil of camphor; internally alcohol or black coffee. 



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