ANEMIA OF THE BRAIN. AND ITS MEMBRANES 211 



ANEMIA OF THE BRAIN AND ITS MEMBRANES. 



Etiology. — Where the body has suffered a sudden loss of a 

 quantity of blood, or where a rush of blood from the brain to 

 other organs occurs, an acute anemia of the brain results. 

 Examples of the latter instance are furnished when large 

 amounts of exudate or transudate are removed too rapidly 

 from a body cavity (hydrothorax, ascites) or large amounts 

 of gas from the bowels. Acute heart weakness or a general 

 dilatation of the bloodvessels as is sometimes associated 

 with severe infections and many poisonings will also produce 

 acute anemia. 



A chronic anemia of the brain accompanies general anemia, 

 specific diseases of the blood (leukemia), increased intra- 

 cranial pressure, and very rarely results from compression or 

 thrombosis of the carotids. 



Symptoms. — Acute anemia of the brain produces dis- 

 turbance in consciousness. The animal walks with a stagger- 

 ing gait, the patient finally falling to the ground as if lifeless. 

 Vomiting animals may vomit. The mucous membranes are 

 very pale, the pupils dilated, the pulse rapid and thread-like, 

 the respirations either slow and deep or accelerated and super- 

 ficial. In severe cases the syncope may be interrupted by 

 convulsions and the death of the patient. In milder cases 

 the animal returns gradually to consciousness, remains for 

 a time stupid and languid, and with a tendency to re- 

 lapses. 



Chronic brain anemia usually produces no symptoms, as 

 the condition develops gradually, the brain adapting itself 

 to it. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis varies with the cause. In acute 

 cases as long as the pupil reacts to light recovery is probable. 

 On the other hand, if there is no reaction, and especially if the 

 patient shows symptoms of convulsions, the prognosis is 

 bad. 



Treatment. — Stimulating agents are recommended, such as 

 rubbing the surface of the body: allowing the patient to 

 inhale fumes of ammonia; subcutaneous injections of ether, 

 caffein, or oil of camphor; internally alcohol or black coffee 



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