LIGHTNING STROKE— ELECTRIC STROKE 215 



react to stimuli; twitching of muscles appear and rolling of 

 the eyeballs. The animal finally rises to its feet, and provided 

 no injury to the motor tracts has resulted, it appears normal. 

 In the latter case 'it may be left paralyzed. In severe cases 

 the patient does not regain consciousness and dies under 

 convulsions. 



With the return of consciousness sometimes the animal is 

 left paralyzed; quite commonly the paralysis assumes the 

 form of a hemiplegia. However, depending upon what motor 

 tracts are involved, the foTm of paralysis will vary. 



Diagnosis. — When the history of injury is clear the diag- 

 nosis is not difficult. On the other hand, if there is no such 

 history and no lesions about the head can be noted a contusion 

 might easily be confused with cerebral hemorrhage (apoplexy) 

 or inflammation of the brain. The sudden appearance of 

 severe brain symptoms without fever is significant in this regard . 



Prognosis. — Contusion of the brain in most cases leads 

 directly or indirectly to the death of the patient. Obviously 

 mild cases when the animal has been only stunned recover. 

 Many patients which do not die are left permanently crippled 

 through resulting paralysis. 



Treatment. — The head of the patient should be elevated 

 and cold applied to the poll. Excitants such as ether or 

 camphor may be used internally. After return to conscious- 

 ness the use of deep bedding or slings may be recommendable, 

 depending upon the individual case. 



LIGHTNING STROKE. ELECTRIC STROKE. 



By lightning or electric stroke we understand an injury 

 to nerve tissue produced by powerful currents of electricity. 

 In some instances no pathological change is found in the tissue, 

 the condition being functional. 



Occurrence. — Lightning stroke commonly occurs in the 

 open country, animals on pasture being victims. In the city 

 horses occasionally come in contact with high-tension wires 

 which have fallen upon the street. During the summer sea- 

 son thousands of animals are killed or injured annually by 

 lightning on the farms of this country. 



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