CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN. 



Definition. Causes : leaps, trips, falls, blows. Symptoms : fall, insensi- 

 bility, flaccidity, suspended respiration, tumors, vomiting, recovery, signs 

 of cerebral congestion. Pathology: anaemia followed by congestion. Diag- 

 nosis : from fracture, epilepsy. Treatment : quiet, rubbing of limbs, am- 

 monia, cold to head, or heat ; for congestion, bromides, depletion, ice pack, 

 derivatives. 



Defi.nitio7i. Concussion is the condition produced by mechani- 

 cal jar or shock of the cerebral mass, and manifested by modifi- 

 cation of the brain functions of any grade from a simple dazed 

 condition to that of complete unconsciousness. 



Causes. The most familiar cause is the stroke of the butcher's 

 pole ax, producing sudden and absolute insensibility. A horse 

 in leaping, trips and falls on his head or running against a wall 

 sustains a concussion, which leaves him for some seconds without 

 any signs of life. The same will happen to other animals, but 

 above all to rams which in their combats, back for a number of 

 yards and running together meet with a shock from the effect of 

 which even their thick skulls cannot save them. Other blows 

 upon the head operate to the same end. 



Symptoms. Concussion is manifested by different grades of 

 symptoms. At first there is usually a fall with complete insen- 

 sibility. The animal lies flaccid, utterly insensible to external 

 irritation and there is suspension of respiration. The heart con- 

 tinues to beat and a frequent weak pulse may be often detected. 

 In "slight cases, breathing may be re-established at the end of a 

 minute or two, with muscular tremors and movements of the 

 limbs ; then the animal rises, shakes his head, neighs, and walks 

 at first unsteadily and afterward with greater and greater firmness. 

 In vomiting animals, emesis occurs. 



In some cases this may be followed, after an hour or two, by 

 signs of congestion, heat of the head, redness of the eyes, irri- 

 tability, or dullness and stupor and perhaps muscular twitching. 

 This may improve or it may terminate in death preceded by 

 spasms, general convulsions, rolling of the eye balls, and stupor 

 or coma with general muscular relaxation. 



The primary condition is usually an anaemia of the cerebral 

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