Cerebral Hypercemia. 93 



larger animals the disease may go on to more violent symptoms, 

 and the animal howls, rushes in different directions, and maj'^ 

 snap at imaginary objects, or at any one who interferes with him. 

 His movements are liable to be unsteady, uncertain and swaying. 



In all cases the ophthalmoscope reveals a congestion of the 

 optic disc. 



In the different animals too, acute cerebral hypersemia tends to 

 merge early into encephalitis with exudation and pressure, at- 

 tended by stupor, coma, soinnolence or profound lethargy. 



Treatment. In slight cases of cerebral hypersemia, it may be 

 , sufficient to apply cold to the head with a stimulating fomenta- 

 tion to the limbs, and an active purgative, with chloral or bro- 

 mides. Ergot in full doses has often an excellent effect. 



In the more acute types of the disease, bleeding is the first and 

 most efficient measure. A full abstraction from the jugular 

 will relieve the vascular tension and relieve the circulation on the 

 brain. It has been counselled to avoid this when comatose 

 symptoms have set in, and in some prostrate conditions a large 

 and rapid abstraction of blood may fatally increase the prostra- 

 tion. In other cases, however, the less rapid abstraction will 

 improve at once the intracranial circulation and nutrition, and 

 solicit the reabsorption of the exudate which produces sopor and 

 coma. 



A purgative is one of the most efficient derivatives, the deter- 

 mination of an excess of blood to the bowels and of an abundant 

 serous discharge into their interior acting as a valuable depletion, 

 and abstraction of blood from the over-excited brain. At least a 

 half more than the usual dose mast be given, and may be supple- 

 mented by an injection of glycerine or a hypodermic exhibition 

 of 'eserine. It is best to avoid too drastic or irritant purgatives 

 as the cerebral congestion may be aggravated by the irritation, as 

 it often is induced in severe indigestions. For the horse, aloes 

 and podophyllin, or for ruminants, omnivora and carnivora 

 castor oil may be resorted to. 



The patient must be placed by himself in a dark, cool, well 

 aired building, and when able to resume feeding must receive an 

 easily digested, non-stimulating diet ; for horses or cattle, gruels, 

 wheat bran mashes, pulped roots, or green food ; for dogs and 

 pigs, gruels, mush or milk. 



Any sequent paralysis must be treated on general principles. 



