476 G-ENERAL DISEASES. 



life within twenty-four hours. As a rule, the more gradual is its 

 approach, the less severe will be the symptoms. It has a marked 

 tendency to recur after a few days. Observation of the internal 

 temperature does not always afford reliable information about this 

 disease; for even in severe attacks, the temperature in different 

 Instances, ' may be respectively, high, low, or normal. 



Cerebro-spinal fever is well known in the United States, and is 

 also met with in some parts of the Continent. 



" Tetanus may be distinguished from cerebro-spinal fever by the 

 continued contraction of the muscles, and by the existence of head 

 symptoms " (Friedberger and Frohner). 



When this complaint breaks out, it almost invariably does so 

 during the cold months of the year. Unhealthy surroundings do 

 not appear to influence its spread in any way. 



The death-rate is about 90 per cent. The attack, in fatal cases, 

 usually runs its course within a week, not counting relapses. 



POSl'-MOETEM APPEARANCES.— Owing to the course of the inflam- 

 mation, the brain and the spinal cord, close to it, are filled with a watery 

 exudation more or less mixed with pus, and sometimes with blood. The 

 blood-vessels of the part are greatly congested. 



TREATMENT. — If possible, place the animal in slings without 

 delay; in order, by gravitation, to relieve to some extent the 

 congestion of the brain and spinal cord. Unless the patient is 

 slung within twenty-four hours from time of attack, there is but 

 slight hope for a recovery. Give a mild dose of aloes, and a 

 couple of drachms of belladonna, once or twice in the day, or 

 inject atropine (p. 613), subcutaneously (p. 644) ; and apply bags 

 of pounded ice to the spine. Up to the present, medicine does 

 not appear to have any very well-marked power in controlling the 

 effects of this disease. Subcutaneous injections of 10 grains of 

 the hydrochlorate of pilocarpine are advised. 



Glanders and Farcy. 



DESCRIPTION. — Glanders and farcy are different forms of a 

 disease caused by the entrance into the body of a particular kind 

 of disease germ (bacillus mallei). The malady is called 

 " glanders," when it is principally confined to the lungs and air- 

 passages (bronchial tubes, windpipe, nostrils, etc.), as will be 

 manifested by discharge from the nose, swelling of one or more of 

 the glands which are between the angles of the lower jaw, and 

 ulceration of the mucous membrane which lines the nostrils. If, 

 however, the presence of the djsease is chiefly shown in the skin 

 and tissues immediately Tinderneath it, it is termed " farcy." 



