196 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



abscesses. In some cases the abscesses are small and numerous, sur- 

 rounded with a softened condition of the brain matter, and some- 

 times we may find one large abscess. In cases of recent development 

 the walls of the abscesses are fringed and ragged and have no lining 

 membrane. In older or chronic cases, the walls of the abscesses are 

 generally lined with a strong membrane, often having the appearance 

 of a sac, or cyst, and the contents have a very offensive odor. 



Treatment. — In all acute attacks of inflammation involving the 

 membranes or cerebral masses, it is the pressure from the distended 

 and engorged blood vessels and the rapid accumulation of inflamma- 

 tory products that endangers the life of the animal in even the very 

 early stage of the disease. The earlier the treatment is commenced to 

 lessen the danger of fatal pressure from the engorged blood vessels, 

 the less amount of inflammatory products and effusion we have to 

 contend with later on. The leading object, then, to be accomplished 

 in the treatment of the first stages of encephalitis, meningitis, or cere- 

 britis is to relieve the engorgement of the blood vessels before a dan- 

 gerous degree of effusion or exudation has taken place, and thereby 

 lessen the irritation or excitability of the affected structures.- If the 

 attempt to relieve the engorgement in the first stage has been only 

 partially successful, and the second stage with its inflammatory prod- 

 ucts and exudations, whether serous or plastic, has set in, then the 

 main objects in further treatment are to keep up the strength of the 

 animal and hasten the absorption of the exudative products as much 

 as possible. To obtain these results, when the animal is found in the 

 initial stage of the disease, where there is unnatural excitability or 

 stupor with increase of temperature and quickened pulse, we should 

 applycold to the head in the form of cold water or ice. For this pur- 

 pose cloths or bags may be used, and they should be renewed as often 

 as necessary. If the disease is still in its early stages and the animal 

 is strong, bleeding from the jugular vein may be beneficial. Good 

 results are to be expected only during the stage of excitement, while 

 there is a strong, full pulse and the mucous membranes of the head 

 are red from a plentiful supply of blood. The finger should be kept 

 on the pulse and the blood allowed to flow until there is distinct 

 softening of the pulse. As soon as the animal recovers somewhat 

 from the shock of the bleeding, the following medicine should be 

 made into a ball or dissolved in a pint of warm water and be given 

 at one dose : Barbados aloes, 7 drams ; calomel, 2 drams ; powdered 

 ginger, 1 dram ; tincture of aconite, 20 drops. 



The animal should be placed in a cool, dark place, as free from 

 noise as possible. When the animal becomes thirsty half an ounce of 

 bromide of potash may be dissolved in his drinking water every six 

 hours. Injections of warm water into the rectum may facilitate the 

 action of the purgative. Norwood's tincture of veratrum viride, in 



