238 DISEASES OF THE BRAIN 



illy ventilated stables, 'overexertion, tying the head too 

 high after operations, etc. 



A secondary meningo-encephalitis may follow strangles in 

 the horse or tuberculosis in the ox. Obviously, meningo- 

 encephalitis may also result from traumatism, inflammation 

 of the brain and meninges following an injury. Abscesses 

 in the neighborhood of the cranium (eye socket), necrosis 

 of the atlas, diseases of the middle ear, etc., may lead to an 

 infection of the brain. 



In rare cases parasites (sclerostomes, Gastrophilus equi, 

 ccenurus and cysticerci) may be causes. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of brain disturbance usually 

 develop rapidly. The patient appears stupid, languid, the 

 facial expression staring, and the attitude unphysiological. 

 Horses often stand with their forefeet and hind feet drawn 

 together, the head pendent, and the eyelids partially closed. 

 The patient pays little or no attention to its surroundings, 

 does not eat and fails to obey commands. The gait is 

 awkward, stumbling and sometimes the forefeet are lifted 

 as if the horse were wading in water. There are often 

 marked symptoms of cerebral excitement, the patient 

 running about in an aimless fashion not infrequently col- 

 liding with the fence, building, or whatever may come in its 

 way. Forced movements are also observed, the animal 

 walking in a circle. 



Cattle are restless, look wild, bellow, tear up the earth 

 with their horns and may even attack persons. They 

 finally drop to the ground and are seized with convulsions. 

 In tubercular meningitis sjTnptoms of excitement are usually 

 absent. 



Following the stage of excitement which usually lasts not 

 over half an hour the patient goes over into a stage of stupor, 

 seems oblivious of its surroundings, stands with the eyelids 

 half closed, head sunken, chin resting upon the edge of 

 the manger, or quite commonly the head is forced into a 

 corner. The gait is often irregular, awkward, the patient 

 stumbling and falling as it progresses. 



While the respirations are accelerated in the stage of 

 excitement, in the second stage they are usually slower 



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