In some cases this may be followed, after an hour or two, by signs of congestion, heat of the head, redness of the eyes, irritability, or dullness and stupor and perhaps muscular twitching. This may improve or it may terminate in death preceded by spasms, general convulsions, rolling of the eye balls, and stupor or coma with general muscular relaxation.
The primary condition is usually an anæmia of the cerebral matter as seen in the brain of the animal suddenly killed by the blow of a hammer. The return of consciousness or semi-consciousness is connected with the resumed freedom of the cerebral circulation. The later convulsions, stupor or coma, usually imply active congestion or the effusion of blood on the brain surface, or in its substance.
Diagnosis from fracture must be made mainly by manipulation of the bone in the seat of the blow, and by the absence of the increasing stupor and coma which attend on pressure from a gradually increasing blood clot. From epilepsy it is to be distinguished by the evidence of mechanical injury, by the absence of spasms at the first, by the suspension of breathing and the absence of froth about the lips.
Treatment. Keep the patient still and prostrate until there are signs of returning respiration and free cerebral circulation. This may be hastened, however, by active rubbing of the limbs and body, by giving guarded inhalations of ammonia, or even by friction of the skin with ammonia and oil. Sometimes reaction is favored by dashing cold water on the head, while in other cases hot water to the poll will prove more effective, or the two may be used alternately with good results.
If, after partial recovery, there is marked restlessness, or irritability it may be met with bromides. If secondary unconsciousness supervenes effusion of serum or blood is to be feared, or extreme congestion, and blood may be drawn from the jugular or by cups from the cranium, and ice bags or cold water may be applied to the head. Hot foot baths or mustard embrocations applied to the limbs, and even derivation toward the bowels may be used. The indications for treatment come to be for meningo-encephalitis.
LIGHTNING STROKE. ELECTRIC SHOCK.
Fatal. Non-fatal. Herbivora at pasture under tree. Symptoms: dazed for a few minutes, unconscious for hours, permanent paresis or paralysis. Lesions: lines of burned hair, skin or muscles, rigor mortis slight, decomposition rapid, bluish black venous and capillary congestion, extravasations, blood fluid. Diagnosis. Treatment: ammonia, ether, alcohol, caffein, nerve stimulants.
While a stroke of lightning is usually fatal, yet in certain cases, the victim is but temporarily stunned and recovers with more or less remaining paralysis. The subject has also great importance in connection with the claim of the owner against a company which may have insured his stock against lightning.
Any animal may be struck, but the herbivora which are turned out to pasture are especially liable to such injuries, because they seek shelter under trees, which operate as lightning rods.
Symptoms. In slight cases of shock whether by lightning or the current of a hanging live electric wire, the subject may be simply dazed and may or may not fall to the ground, and recover itself in a very few minutes. In other cases there is a more violent shock which prostrates the animal to the earth, where it may lie unconscious for some hours and yet quickly and completely recover. In still other cases after such prostration recovery is incomplete and the animal remains affected with paresis or paralysis of one or more, commonly of both hind, or all four limbs. In the more violent shocks death is instantaneous.