In all cases the ophthalmoscope reveals a congestion of the optic disc.
In the different animals too, acute cerebral hyperæmia tends to merge early into encephalitis with exudation and pressure, attended by stupor, coma, somnolence or profound lethargy.
Treatment. In slight cases of cerebral hyperæmia, it may be sufficient to apply cold to the head with a stimulating fomentation to the limbs, and an active purgative, with chloral or bromides. Ergot in full doses has often an excellent effect.
In the more acute types of the disease, bleeding is the first and most efficient measure. A full abstraction from the jugular will relieve the vascular tension and relieve the circulation on the brain. It has been counselled to avoid this when comatose symptoms have set in, and in some prostrate conditions a large and rapid abstraction of blood may fatally increase the prostration. In other cases, however, the less rapid abstraction will improve at once the intracranial circulation and nutrition, and solicit the reabsorption of the exudate which produces sopor and coma.
A purgative is one of the most efficient derivatives, the determination of an excess of blood to the bowels and of an abundant serous discharge into their interior acting as a valuable depletion, and abstraction of blood from the over-excited brain. At least a half more than the usual dose must be given, and may be supplemented by an injection of glycerine or a hypodermic exhibition of eserine. It is best to avoid too drastic or irritant purgatives as the cerebral congestion may be aggravated by the irritation, as it often is induced in severe indigestions. For the horse, aloes and podophyllin, or for ruminants, omnivora and carnivora castor oil may be resorted to.
The patient must be placed by himself in a dark, cool, well aired building, and when able to resume feeding must receive an easily digested, non-stimulating diet; for horses or cattle gruels, wheat bran mashes, pulped roots, or green food; for dogs and pigs, gruels, mush or milk.
Any sequent paralysis must be treated on general principles.
MENINGO—ENCEPHALITIS. STAGGERS.
Divisions. Causes: traumas, faulty diet, highly nitrogenous, leguminous seeds, undergoing ripening, cotton seed, gluten meal, forced feeding, buckwheat, ryegrass, lupins, cryptogams, trefoil, equisetum, narcotics, microbian ferments, experiments with spoiled food and epizootics in wet years, high temperature, violent exercise, railroad travel, climatic change, complex causes, embolisms, infections, lead, phosphorus, tumors, parasites. Symptoms: with meningitis, fever, hyperæsthesia, active delirium and convulsions predominate: with encephalitis, dullness, stupor, somnolence, muscular weakness, anæsthesia, paralysis, coma; usually complex, hyperthermia, periods of benumbing, followed by excitement; drowsy, stupid, semi-closed eyelids, drooping lips, ears, and head, latter resting on manger or wall, walks unsteadily, limbs out of plumb, hangs on halter, won’t back, turns in circle, costive, indigestion, tympanies, rumbling, abnormal (often slow) pulse and breathing, congested optic disc; alternate with trembling, excitement, pawing, rearing, plunging, pushing against the wall, trotting motions, etc.: uncontrollable violence; severity and frequency of paroxysms indicate gravity; recovery: sequelæ. Duration: death in 24 to 36 hours: or weeks. Prognosis: one-quarter recover, with increased susceptibility; nervous animals worst. Lesions: extravasation, congestion, exudates, pus, thickened meninges; choroid plexus: brain matter gray or red, puncta, infiltrated, softened, excess of leucocytes, red softening, yellow softening, sclerosis, cicatrix, abscess. Diagnosis: from rabies, cerebral congestion, immobility, influenza. Cattle. Symptoms: evidence of trauma, indigestion, lead poisoning, narcotism, parasitism; dullness, stupor, somnolence, stertor, grinding teeth, spasms, twitching, restless movements, blindness, violent actions, bellowing, hebetude, palsy. Relation to causation. Sheep: Symptoms. Swine: Symptoms. Dog: Symptoms. Diagnosis from rabies. Treatment: quiet, darkness, coolness, restraint, ice or cold irrigation, elimination, derivation, depletion, diuretics, potassium iodide, antipyretics, laxative diet, cool water, evacuate abscess. Cattle, similar, saline laxatives, for lead sulphuric acid, for cœnurus, operation, for œstrus, benzine. Dog, parallel treatment, milk diet or gruels, for linguatula, benzine.
The inflammatory affections in the cranial cavity have been divided primarily into the following: