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Encephalitis
E 1tcephalitzs. hysterotomy, I believe I could only have saved the calf, as the incisions would have to have been very extensive to have effected delivery. This pathological condition has been described by Fleming in his "Veterinary Obstetrics /I as almost peculiar to the cow, and accounted for by the fact that irritation produces in the bovine species phenomena of induration much more durable than in any other species. I have, however, met with this condition, more or less, in the ewe on five occasions, and had unfavourable results from operating in each case; thus differing from four cases in the cow, all of which turned out well. The only history of the above case I could glean was that the cow had brought six calves previously, all healthy and well, and that at the last conception she had suffered from gonorrhcea, or, as the owners said, had been badly burned by the bull, and it took a lot of zinc and bluestone to cure her, which treatment may perhaps have been the cause· of the indurated condition above described.
EN CE PHALITIS. BY GERALD H. FEi'lTON, F.R.P.S., A.V.D.; STATION (FEBRUARY) HOSPI T.,\ L, KAMPTEE.
A)IONGST the various disorders and complications, functional and organic, of the brain, which have come under my notice, such a~ Vertigo, Cerebro-spinal Meningitis, Epilepsy, Rabies, poisoning, etc., I have never met with a case of Encephalitis until the other day. The description of this I send a copy from case-book, as diseases of an uncommon occurrence are generally interesting. Having looked through the registers in my charge and statistics I see no Encephalitis. Many affections of the brain have similar symptoms, associated, however, with their own special characteristics, and the case in point-a bay waler mare, thirteen years old-excited my curiosity not a little, from the appearance of the eyes, which are naturally large-in fact, they resembled, for description, a pair of policeman's bull's-eye lanterns. There was an entire absence of any violent symptoms, the biting at the wall of her own shadow was done gently, and she had a great desire to drink, but only took a little at a time, owing to the great difficulty in swallowing. As to the cause, I can only suggest that it was the food, as. at this time I had several cases of Colic, all of which, in addition to the usual symptoms, were more or less drowsy. I carefully examined the grain, and found a quantity of immature grain, and Some foreign matter, which I at once reported, but the other horses of the regiment were not affected; so the suggestion of food bein g th e cause became somewhat weak, unless these animals by any
316
The Veterz'uary Joumal.
chance got a larger share of the foreign grain and had a stronger predisposition to this disorder. The hay is exceptionally good. The following is the extracts from case-book:-
Case No. 127, C. 29, 4th Madras Cavalry. Ettcephalitis. February 14th.-The patient was reported as going very slowly through her feed the day before. To-day she showed peculiar symptoms-very dull, falling asleep whilst standing, trembles, legs wide apart, the eye amaurotic in appearance, pulse slow and rolling, and the patient alternately sleepy and excited; at times hanging back and pushing the wall with her hind quarters, at other times biting at her shadow on the wall and occasionally falling down, but not violently, and rising again ; the muscles at times becoming quite rigid and the tail elevated, as in Tetanus. Treatment. Bleed the patient at once from the jugular; took six quarts, which seemed to have a good effect very soon afterwards; also administer Aloes 3vi in solution. Keep Magnesia Sulphas, about 8 or 10 ounces, in the drinking water. The patient also had a cloth, which was kept constantly wet, applied to the head. 15th.-The patient is about the same, having passed no freces and only a very little urine of a high colour. The bowels are undoubtedly paralysed. The patient still at times bites at her shadow. Repeat the Magnesia Sulphas in a draught, 10 ounces in a bottle of water, throw up enemas, and inject hypodermically Sol. Morphia acet. The patient was quiet for about an hour, when she began to walk constantly round the box, and kept on doing so nearly all the night. She at times swallowed a few mouthfuls of gruel, but from the first she had difficulty in swallowing, owing to paralysis in this region also. I6th.-Patient much better, the bowels having acted and urinated freely, but the mare has still the straddling gait, and the fixed appearance of the eye; less difficulty in swallowing; give beer, and beef tea in small quantities. Continue a little Magnesia Sulphas in the drinking water. Th e freces passed were semifluid, and had a most offensive odour. 17th.-Improving. Discontinue the Sulphate of Magnesia in the water, and substitute Bromide of Potash in four-drachm doses twice a day. 20th.-Doing well. Decrease the Bromide of Potash to t wo drachms twice a day, and give vegetable tonics. 25th.-The patient walks about the box much freer and does not keep the fore limbs so wide apart. Give ten minutes' '"alking exercise twice a day.
Oil of Eucalyptus.
317
28th.-The patient has much improved, increase exercise to half an hour twice a day. March 4th.-Patient suite convalescent, appetite very good, and all brain symptoms have disappeared. Continue tonic balls and increase exercise. 1 2th.-Discharged. Cured.
OIL OF EUCALYPTUS. BY ]. A.
NUN~,
F.R .C. V. S. 1 ARMY
VETERI NARY
D EPARTMENT, NATAL.
THE oil of the Eucalyptus, or Australian Gum Tree, although for some time past used in human, has, so far as I am aware, up to the present time, not attracted much attention in veterinary medicine. It is chiefly manufactured in South Australia by distillation from the fresh leaves of the Eucalyptus Amygdalina and Eucalyptus Globu/us or Blue Gum ; but doubtless any of the other speciesEucalyptus Resinijera or Iron Bark, Eucalyptus Cory mbara, Eucalyptus Rodrata, Eucalyptus Ct"triodorci-are also used for the purpose. In the fresh state it has a pungent aromatic odour, and is of a white or pale straw colour; but it becomes darker and thicker on exposure. Its specific gravity is about ·900, but it varies in this respect. Administered internally, according to Ringer and Cloetz, it increases the internal discharges, and in excessive doses causes profuse diarrhoea, with the characteristic odour of the oil. It also acts as a diuretic, and excites perspiration. The Unguentum Eucalypti is official in America, and is prepared by adding one part each of hard and soft paraffine when melted, and stirring together until cold. In certain cases of Urticaria and Eczema, which are exceedingly troublesome in Australian horses during the rains in India, I found th a t one part each of Iodoform and Eucalyptus to eight or ten of vaseline, produced an excellent result. In veterinary practice I have found it a superior dressing to any other drug in cases of castration, in the proportion of one to eight or ten parts of olive or sweet oil. In several cases that were operated on during the rainy season in India, and to which the ordinary carbolic dressing was applied, all the premonitory symptoms of schirrous cord appeared after the second or third day, but on changing to th e oil of Eucalyptus they at once subsided, and the pat:ents did well. It is also a most wonderful deodorizer, and I found it had a startling effect in keeping off flies, which in a warm climate are most troublesome to wounds.
EN CE PHALITIS. BY GERALD H. FEi'lTON, F.R.P.S., A.V.D.; STATION (FEBRUARY) HOSPI T.,\ L, KAMPTEE.
A)IONGST the various disorders and complications, functional and organic, of the brain, which have come under my notice, such a~ Vertigo, Cerebro-spinal Meningitis, Epilepsy, Rabies, poisoning, etc., I have never met with a case of Encephalitis until the other day. The description of this I send a copy from case-book, as diseases of an uncommon occurrence are generally interesting. Having looked through the registers in my charge and statistics I see no Encephalitis. Many affections of the brain have similar symptoms, associated, however, with their own special characteristics, and the case in point-a bay waler mare, thirteen years old-excited my curiosity not a little, from the appearance of the eyes, which are naturally large-in fact, they resembled, for description, a pair of policeman's bull's-eye lanterns. There was an entire absence of any violent symptoms, the biting at the wall of her own shadow was done gently, and she had a great desire to drink, but only took a little at a time, owing to the great difficulty in swallowing. As to the cause, I can only suggest that it was the food, as. at this time I had several cases of Colic, all of which, in addition to the usual symptoms, were more or less drowsy. I carefully examined the grain, and found a quantity of immature grain, and Some foreign matter, which I at once reported, but the other horses of the regiment were not affected; so the suggestion of food bein g th e cause became somewhat weak, unless these animals by any
316
The Veterz'uary Joumal.
chance got a larger share of the foreign grain and had a stronger predisposition to this disorder. The hay is exceptionally good. The following is the extracts from case-book:-
Case No. 127, C. 29, 4th Madras Cavalry. Ettcephalitis. February 14th.-The patient was reported as going very slowly through her feed the day before. To-day she showed peculiar symptoms-very dull, falling asleep whilst standing, trembles, legs wide apart, the eye amaurotic in appearance, pulse slow and rolling, and the patient alternately sleepy and excited; at times hanging back and pushing the wall with her hind quarters, at other times biting at her shadow on the wall and occasionally falling down, but not violently, and rising again ; the muscles at times becoming quite rigid and the tail elevated, as in Tetanus. Treatment. Bleed the patient at once from the jugular; took six quarts, which seemed to have a good effect very soon afterwards; also administer Aloes 3vi in solution. Keep Magnesia Sulphas, about 8 or 10 ounces, in the drinking water. The patient also had a cloth, which was kept constantly wet, applied to the head. 15th.-The patient is about the same, having passed no freces and only a very little urine of a high colour. The bowels are undoubtedly paralysed. The patient still at times bites at her shadow. Repeat the Magnesia Sulphas in a draught, 10 ounces in a bottle of water, throw up enemas, and inject hypodermically Sol. Morphia acet. The patient was quiet for about an hour, when she began to walk constantly round the box, and kept on doing so nearly all the night. She at times swallowed a few mouthfuls of gruel, but from the first she had difficulty in swallowing, owing to paralysis in this region also. I6th.-Patient much better, the bowels having acted and urinated freely, but the mare has still the straddling gait, and the fixed appearance of the eye; less difficulty in swallowing; give beer, and beef tea in small quantities. Continue a little Magnesia Sulphas in the drinking water. Th e freces passed were semifluid, and had a most offensive odour. 17th.-Improving. Discontinue the Sulphate of Magnesia in the water, and substitute Bromide of Potash in four-drachm doses twice a day. 20th.-Doing well. Decrease the Bromide of Potash to t wo drachms twice a day, and give vegetable tonics. 25th.-The patient walks about the box much freer and does not keep the fore limbs so wide apart. Give ten minutes' '"alking exercise twice a day.
Oil of Eucalyptus.
317
28th.-The patient has much improved, increase exercise to half an hour twice a day. March 4th.-Patient suite convalescent, appetite very good, and all brain symptoms have disappeared. Continue tonic balls and increase exercise. 1 2th.-Discharged. Cured.
OIL OF EUCALYPTUS. BY ]. A.
NUN~,
F.R .C. V. S. 1 ARMY
VETERI NARY
D EPARTMENT, NATAL.
THE oil of the Eucalyptus, or Australian Gum Tree, although for some time past used in human, has, so far as I am aware, up to the present time, not attracted much attention in veterinary medicine. It is chiefly manufactured in South Australia by distillation from the fresh leaves of the Eucalyptus Amygdalina and Eucalyptus Globu/us or Blue Gum ; but doubtless any of the other speciesEucalyptus Resinijera or Iron Bark, Eucalyptus Cory mbara, Eucalyptus Rodrata, Eucalyptus Ct"triodorci-are also used for the purpose. In the fresh state it has a pungent aromatic odour, and is of a white or pale straw colour; but it becomes darker and thicker on exposure. Its specific gravity is about ·900, but it varies in this respect. Administered internally, according to Ringer and Cloetz, it increases the internal discharges, and in excessive doses causes profuse diarrhoea, with the characteristic odour of the oil. It also acts as a diuretic, and excites perspiration. The Unguentum Eucalypti is official in America, and is prepared by adding one part each of hard and soft paraffine when melted, and stirring together until cold. In certain cases of Urticaria and Eczema, which are exceedingly troublesome in Australian horses during the rains in India, I found th a t one part each of Iodoform and Eucalyptus to eight or ten of vaseline, produced an excellent result. In veterinary practice I have found it a superior dressing to any other drug in cases of castration, in the proportion of one to eight or ten parts of olive or sweet oil. In several cases that were operated on during the rainy season in India, and to which the ordinary carbolic dressing was applied, all the premonitory symptoms of schirrous cord appeared after the second or third day, but on changing to th e oil of Eucalyptus they at once subsided, and the pat:ents did well. It is also a most wonderful deodorizer, and I found it had a startling effect in keeping off flies, which in a warm climate are most troublesome to wounds.