CHRONIC HYDROCEPHALUS. DROPSY OF THE VEN- 

 TRICLES. IMMOBILITY. 



Horse especially suffers. Enzootic in given Alpine Valleys, along Rhone, 

 in Mississippi Valley and bottom lands. Acclimatizing fever. Old, 

 lymphatic, large heads, narrow foreheads predisposed. Geldings. Causes, 

 heredity, cerebral and meningeal congestion, cranial traumas, venous ob- 

 struction, tumors, false membranes, fodder or water poisoning, overwork, 

 insolation, prolonged moist heat, hepatic, gastric, and pulmonary disorders. 

 Symptoms: form of head, stupid expression, irresponsive ears, pendent 

 lips, sluggish movements, crossed legs, slow mastication, dips face in water, 

 intractable by halter or rein, unable to back with rider, or wagon, drags 

 back fore limbs, worst in hot damp weather, in sunshine, or after work, or 

 with full stomach. Paroxysms of excitement. Lesions : excess of arach- 

 noid, subarachnoid or ventricular fluid, atrophy of ganglia and convolu- 

 tions, ependyma thick, opaque, sclerosis, brain anaemic. Tumors, nature. 

 Experimental cases. Prognosis, incurable, better in cool season. In cattle, 

 sheep, swine and dogs. Treatment : derivatives, nerve stimulants (nux), 

 puncture, pilocarpin, purgatives. Jurisprudence. Notify seller in 9 days 

 (France), 15 (Bavaria), 21 (Wurtenberg, Baden), 28 (Hesse, Prussia), 30 

 (Austria). Examination by expert. 



Dropsy of the ventricles is common in the horse in certain 

 countries and districts, yet even there it is uncommon in cattle, 

 sheep, swine and dogs, save as a congenital affection. It is re- 

 ported as enzootic in some Alpine valleys and along the Rhone, 

 attacking especially the mares and immature horses so that breed- 

 ing becomes impossible. Mauener who reports this says that in 

 the same localities encephalic diseases are more common in man. 

 In America it appears to be most frequent in the rich bottom 

 lands of the Mississippi valley and of the Southern States. 

 Northern horses taken to the Gulf States though they may not 

 suffer to this extent, are liable in the first year to show weakness, 

 debility, and lack of vigor which is spoken of as the acclima- 

 tizing fever. Elsewhere the affection is one of the old horses in 

 which the vital powers begin to fail. Common breeds of horses 

 with lymphatic temperament, large head and narrow forehead 

 have been found to be especially predisposed. Geldings are said 

 to be most liable on account of the arrested development of the 

 brain, but with the great preponderance of geldings among work 

 horses, it is dangerous to generalize too far. 

 no 



