INFECTIOUS MENINGO-ENCEPHALOMYELITIS 225 



Treatment. — In animals little can be done to relieve the 

 patient. The treatment is therefore the same as for meningo- 

 encephalitis. In rare instances the abscess may be opened 

 after trephining the cranium and its contents evacuated. 

 Obviously the abscess must first be located, a difficult matter 

 in animals, and it must lie superficially if results are to be 

 expected. 



INFECTIOUS MENINGO-ENCEPHALOMYELITIS. 



Borna Disease. Enzootic Cerebrospinal Meningitis 

 of Horses. 



Definition. — Enzootic meningo-encephalomyelitis is an 

 acute infectious disease of the brain and spinal cord of the 

 horse which is characterized clinically by symptoms of cere- 

 bral excitement followed by depression, paralysis of peripheral 

 nerves, and general paralysis. It is usually fatal. 



Occurrence. — The disease was first described in Wiirtem- 

 berg, Germany, in 1813 . It is common in the State of Saxony, 

 where, in 1894, it attacked a number of horses in and near 

 the city of Borna, from which place the disease derived its 

 name. Whether or not this disease has ever existed or does 

 exist in the United States is in dispute. Some authorities 

 claim to have recognized it; this is denied by others, who 

 believe that outbreaks of so-called forage poisoning among 

 horses were mistaken for it. Until a complete scientific study 

 is made of' forage poisoning, which is probably not a clinical 

 entity, this question will not be definitely settled. 



In Europe Borna disease is confined to limited districts 

 in which the disease breaks out at different periods, sometimes 

 annually, sometimes with several years between outbreaks. 

 It is most apt to occur following wet seasons. The disease is 

 usually confined to certain farms, but during some years 

 becomes a more widely distributed enzootic. 



Etiology.— The cause of the disease has not yet been deter- 

 mined. The Borna coccus (Diplococcus intracellularis equi) 

 has not been proved to be the cause. 



Natural Infection.— Horses are probably infected through 

 contaminated food and water. Some authorities believe that 

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