ENCEPHALITIS— INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN 221 



Internally, provided the animal can swallow, cooling laxa- 

 tives such as salts should be given. Pilocarpin (3 to 6 grs. 

 subcutaneously) is recommendable. Arecalin (1 or 2 grs. 

 subcutaneously) can also be employed. In the early stages 

 bleeding has been tried with apparently good results. 



When the animal is very restless and excited clysters of 

 chloral hydrate may be used. Convalescence is usually 

 protracted. 



ENCEPHALITIS. INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 



Definition.— Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain 

 which is usually circumscribed and confined to certain well- 

 defined areas. It nearly always results from infection and 

 appears either as a suppurative or a non-suppurative process. 



Non-suppurative Encephalitis. — Definition. — Non-suppura- 

 tive encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain tissue 

 occurring usually in the form of multiple foci which some- 

 times are hemorrhagic. It is not an uncommon sequela to 

 acute infectious diseases, although it may occur independent 

 of these. 



Occurrence. — While any of the domestic animals are sub- 

 ject to it, it is most frequent in the horse and dog. 



Etiology. — Non-suppurative encephalitis is the result of in- 

 fection or bacterial intoxication. In the first instance it may 

 be secondary to specific infectious diseases (infectious pneu- 

 monia of the horse, strangles), the viruses of these diseases 

 circulating through the brain, or it may be secondary to 

 some local bacterial infection, the toxins of which reach the 

 brain. 



Cases of encephalitis may occur concomitant with or 



follow infectious pneumonia or strangles in the horse, which 



in some outbreaks of these diseases occ'urs more commonly 



than in others. In rabies encephalitis, often hemorrhagic, is 



■ occasionally well developed. 



Encephalitis may also result from sunstroke. ' Feeding 

 heavily on certain foodstuffs (legumes, rye) may predispose 

 the animal. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



