CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS. 
471 
or emprosthotonos, a slight degree of trismus being occasionally 
present, or the lips twisted to one side; in a few instances gen¬ 
eral rigidity of the muscles of the hind-quarters has been observed. 
These phenomena arise from the exalted condition and perverted 
distribution of nervous energy; but this state soon passes over 
and perfect enervation prevails. The undoubted occurrence of 
tetanic spasm in the horse in this disease is interesting, as some 
medical authorities have thought that the opisthotonic attitude so 
frequently assumed by children, when suffering from epidemic 
meningitis, was purely voluntary, and the one which gives most 
relief from pain. But we must not imagine that cerebro-spinal 
meningitis is characterized by tetanic spasm, for this only occurs 
at the outset, and even then is met with in a minority of cases; 
usually, the observer is struck by the utter prostration and* de¬ 
pressing effects of the poison on the animal economy ; the muscu¬ 
lar system is entirely flaccid, and there is a laxity of every function. 
In the majority of cases, however, there are certain early premoni¬ 
tory symptoms of the oncoming disease. The horse appears dull 
and indifferent to surrounding objects; lie droops his head, and 
shows symptoms of more or less severe headache ; the appetite is 
poor; if in a team he lags behind, the gait becomes staggering, 
and the hind legs plait, as it is termed. Some local paralysis may 
now be noticed, such as lopping of the ears, or loss of prehensile 
power in the lips, accompanied by slavering. Difficulty in deglu¬ 
tition is present in every case, and is often the first symptom 
noticed. Mastication is very slow, and in drinking, the nose is 
dipped nearly to the eyes in the water, and although he appears 
to drink readily, yet little is taken. Often this difficulty in deglu¬ 
tition leads to the practitioner being called to see a case of sofe- 
tliroat, as it is thought to be by the attendant; this important 
symptom arises from the animal being unable to “ trough ” his 
tongue, through partial or entire paralysis of the muscles control¬ 
ling that organ. Frequently, the first symptom shown is a loss, 
of muscular power in the tail; you can readily turn it up over the 
croup without resistance , it is very imperfectly used to brush off 
flies, scarcely reaching the flanks, and often not used at all where 
sensation is much impaired. Some cases are ushered in by an at- 
