INFECTIOUS MENINOO-ENCEPHALOMYELITIS 245 



puerperal septicemia). The acute form of abscess of the 

 brain cannot be distinguished from many cases of acute 

 encephalitis or meningo-encephalitis. On the other hand 

 brain abscess which assumes a subacute course may be 

 distinguished by the periodicity of the brain attacks between 

 which the animal may seem in good health, a remittent 

 fever (take temperature for several days), the absence of 

 sensitiveness of the poll, and the peculiar topical symptoms 

 shown. 



Treatment. — In animals little can be done to relieve the 

 patient. The treatment is therefore the same as for meningo- 

 encephalitis. In rare instances the abscess may be opened, 

 after trephining the cranium, and its contents evacuated. 

 Obviously the abscess must first be located, a difficult 

 matter in animals, and it must lie superficially if results are 

 to be expected. 



INFECTIOUS MENINGO-ENCEPHALOMYELITIS. 



BoRNA Disease. Enzootic Cerebrospinal Meningitis 

 OF Horses. 



Definitioii. — Enzootic meningo-encephalomyelitis is an 

 acute infectious disease of the brain and spinal cord of the 

 horse which is characterized clinically by symptoms of cere- 

 bral excitement followed by depression, paralysis of periph- 

 eral nerves and general paralysis. It is usually fatal. 



Occurrence. — ^The disease was first described in Wiirttem- 

 berg, Germany, in 1813. It is common in the state of Saxony, 

 where, in 1894, it attacked a number of horses in and near 

 the city of Borna, from which place the disease derived its 

 name. Whether or not this disease has ever existed or does 

 exist in the United States is in dispute. Some authorities 

 claim to have recognized it; this is denied by others, who 

 believe that outbreaks of so-called forage poisoning among 

 horses were mistaken for it. Until a complete scientific 

 study is made of forage poisoning, which is probably not a 

 clinical entity, this question will not be definitely, settled. 



In Europe, Borna disease is confined to limited districts. 



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