PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT gy 



to light and finally dilate; there may be ptosis or strabismus; the 

 gait is staggering or there is complete inability to stand; retention 

 of feces and urine is commonly followed by incontinence. 



Sleepy Staggers. Dropsy of the Cerebral Ventricles. — 

 This condition often is a sequel of acute inflammation of the brain, 

 and overheating, overfeeding or overexertion are said to predispose. 

 It is a chronic disease in horses, without fever, but exhibited by a 

 sleepy state with drooping lids and head ; standing with legs in un- 

 natural positions; slow or difficult movements; loss of skin sensa- 

 tion ; eating and drinking in an unnatural way with food held for a 

 long time in the mouth. Not incompatible with slow work for a 

 long period. 



Cerebro-spinal Meningitis. — This attacks horses and mules 

 chiefly in enzootic or epizootic form, but is occasionally sporadic. 

 Cattle, dogs and goats are less frequently attacked. It is shown by 

 sudden onset with fever; stupor; (rarely excitement); spasms of 

 muscles of head, neck and limbs; opisthotonos; local paralyses and 

 paraplegia. 



Epizootic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis is thought to have 

 some etiological connection with fungi, as it occurs in wet seasons 

 and localities and where mold grows on herbage and fungi in stag- 

 nant water. No specific organism has been discovered in the case 

 of the horse, although in the human the meningococcus has been 

 shown to be the sole cause of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis. 



The disease may be divided into 3 forms according to its se- 

 verity : 1. In the first the disease is ushered in with trembling, weak- 

 ness and staggering gait. There is difficulty in swallowing and soon 

 convulsions, opisthotonos, and paralysis and unconsciousness occur. 

 The respiration is rapid and the pulse and temperature are variable. 

 Blindness, delirium and coma end the scene in 5 to 48 hours. 2. In 

 the milder form the chief symptoms are dysphagia and inability to 

 switch the tail or for the patient to resist when one holds the tail 

 up against the croup. The patient may improve after a few days or 



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