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Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (Enzootic ?)
3 26
The Veterinary 7ottrnal.
underlying the fibrin, similar to, but not so extensive as the specimen sent. [The boar's heart showed the usual indications of rheumatic endocarditis-valvular erosion and fibrinous depositions on the valves. The muscular structure was much altered. The cascO of the cow was similar in origin and character.]
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS (ENZOOTIC ?). BY A. B. DANIEL, M.R.C.V. S., LONDON.
THE following cases of this disease have occurred in a stud of horses numbering about 540 within the last two months. In all there has been twenty-six cases, but those appended will serve imperfectly to show the symptoms which were present in a greater or less degree amongst all. I have put a query after the word enzootic, owing to the fact that Professor Axe, of the Royal Veterinary College, has lately been investigating a very similar outbreak near Chelmsford, in addition to which I have heard vague rumours that several cases have occurred in London. Should further experience show that these are of a similar nature, the outbreak will prove to be one instance amongst the many occurring in an Epizooty; but in so far as none of those said to have occurred in London are well authenticated, and certain differences existing between the outbreak investigated by Professor Axe and the one I now take the liberty of bringing to the notice of the profession, the assumption is not warranted that the disease really exists in an epizootic form. The following are the fivc cases (out of the twenty-six) which terminated fatally ;STABLE
A.
Case I. a.-At 8 a.m., on the morning of the 24th of February last, I was called to see an aged chestnut mare in fair condition. On the day previous I had seen the mare and found her dull
Cerebra-spinal Men£llgitis (Enzootic .2).
327
and off her feed, with slight catarrhal symptoms, but no fever was present; pulse and temperature being normal, I ordered her into a loose-box. I found her down and struggling very much. I learned that the watchman saw her, as he described it, go down like a shot about 3 a.m. I had her turned from the near to the off side when she lay quiet; she was perfectly sensible, but now and a.gain had clonic spasms of the muscles in a manner similar to that seen in vomition. The symptoms were so strange that I immediately suspected poisoning, and as the foreman of the yard had given her a fever-drink, I inquired narrowly, but found that no mistake had been made in the medicine. On further examination, I found that pressure on each side of the spine over the lumber vertebra! caused great pain, and as the mare was quite powerless in the hind extremities, the idea that she had received a severe injury to the spine, possibly fracture, gained upon me. Temperature 101°, pulse 55. Hot fomentations to the loins; 01. Lini Opii. Evening, 6 p.m., I examined per rectum and found the bladder distended, so passed catheter; urine normal. Turned her on near side, but in a few minutes she commenced struggling to rise, broke into perspiration, and appeared very much distressed, so had her put on off-side again. 25th.-Breathing stertorous, mucous membranes injected, pulse 70, temperature 105 Q, muscles of the neck rigid, and the head stretched backwards; both legs and tail respond to pricking, showing that common sensation was imperfect, fa!ces natural, bladder paralyzed; passed catheter, urine normal. Grabbed at the food, but mastication slow and irregular; drank gruel. 26th and 2lth.-Little change except in the pulse, which was more frequent and irregular. 28th.-Evidently sinking. Died in the evening in a mad state. Case 11. a.-Bay gelding. Worked on Saturday morning, the 12th March; fed well during the day until the evening, when on leaving the stable for the water, the horsekeeper observed him staggering, and called the attention of the foreman, who ordered him back to the stable, and just as he reached the stall down he went. I saw the horse about 7 p.m., and found him lying
The Veterinary Jour1lal. on the near-side fighting with his fore-limbs, the off hind-leg was thrown about irregularly, and each time striking the near hindfoot and fetlock which was lying motionless. Emprosthotonic symptoms well marked, but appears quite sensible; the temperature IOI~, pulse 55. The larger blood-vessels of the conjunctiva prominent near the edges of the eyelids, the mucous membrane between these appearing paler than in health. I tied him up in slings, but he was quite powerless. On letting him down I laid him on the off-side; he gave a sigh of relief, fed and drank a little, and seemed much easier; I passed the catheter, and found the urine normal. I 3th.-This morning I had the horse turned on the near side; but in a few minutes he commenced fighting with his limbs in a similar manner to the night previous, and appeared very much distressed. I turned him back to the position he had occupied during the night, and with immediate relief to the patient. Emprosthotonic spasms had ceased, and now there was a tendency to opisthotonos, with rigidity of the cervical muscles. Temperature 100", pulse 60. Evening little change. Tried slinging, but neck, with fore and hind extremities, powerless. 14th.-Temperature 104°, pulse 85. Mucous membranes injected, breathing laborious, urine ropy and ammonical, containing a number of white mucous flakes. Evening, no change. 15th.-Temperature 106°, pulse 100, irregular; continued about the same throughout the day. 16th.-Breathing stertorous; irregular spasms over the whole surface of the body; mucous membranes intensely injected; pulse weak and fluttering; temperature 105°; evidently sinking. Died in the evening about 6 p.m. STABLE
B.
Case I. b.-March 23rd. Bay mare, seven years old, was seized with similar symptoms. She lay for five days ; was then raised by the aid of the slings, in which she remained and was progressing favourably until April 2nd, when Tetanus, in an acute form, set in, arising, 1 believe, from a rather severe and bad sore, and the cold easterly winds then prevalent. This mare died on the 4th of April.
Cerebro-spinal Meni1tgi#s (Enzoot£c '!).
329
Case II. b.-April 6th. Black mare, aged, was apparently in . excellent health, feeding and well at 9 a.m. At 9.30 a.m. she staggered and fell in the stall. The primary symptoms were similar to the above, but toward evening it was evident that the brain was implicated to a much greater extent. The eyes were heavy and dull, pupils contracted, and perfect inability to keep the head and neck under proper control when raised in the slings. On putting a pail of water before her, she dipped her head to the bottom, and would have quickly committed suicide by drowning had she been allowed. The temperature gradually rose to 100", and although she made frequent efforts to rise the moment she was got into the slings, she became like a dead thing. The breathing gradually became stertorous, and she died without a struggle. STABLE
C.
Case 1. c.-On Saturday, April 9th, an aged grey mare, after doing about three miles at a gentle pace, was observed to be straddling behind, and evidently weak in the hindquarters. She was put in the stable about 9 a.m., fed and drank well till about noon, when she lay down for about half an hour. She stood apparently in good health till about 4-30, when she was observed to stagger forward .pn the manger, and suddenly fall all of a heap. A short time artet~ards I saw her, when she was quite insensible. Breathing stertorous, 22 per minute, pulse 52, temperature 98 °, chronic spasms of the muscles of the neck and shoulders, opisthotonos, bowels natural, paralysis of the bladder, imperfect deglutition, mucous membranes natural, tympanitis. Withdraw urine, natural. Ioth.-Morning. Neither dunged or staled during the night; has scarcely moved, chronic spasms in fore extremities and neck continuous. Breathing more markedly stertorous, 24 per minute; pulse 100, hard, wiry, irregular; temperature 99°; common sensation in hindquarters complete, tongue paralysed, power of deglutition gone, pupils contracted, urine colour normal, but thick and ropy. Evening. No change except in temperature, which was now IOI t O, and pulse was fluttering and indistinct. She died quietly about 9 p.m. (To be continued.) VOL. XII. AA
The Veterinary 7ottrnal.
underlying the fibrin, similar to, but not so extensive as the specimen sent. [The boar's heart showed the usual indications of rheumatic endocarditis-valvular erosion and fibrinous depositions on the valves. The muscular structure was much altered. The cascO of the cow was similar in origin and character.]
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS (ENZOOTIC ?). BY A. B. DANIEL, M.R.C.V. S., LONDON.
THE following cases of this disease have occurred in a stud of horses numbering about 540 within the last two months. In all there has been twenty-six cases, but those appended will serve imperfectly to show the symptoms which were present in a greater or less degree amongst all. I have put a query after the word enzootic, owing to the fact that Professor Axe, of the Royal Veterinary College, has lately been investigating a very similar outbreak near Chelmsford, in addition to which I have heard vague rumours that several cases have occurred in London. Should further experience show that these are of a similar nature, the outbreak will prove to be one instance amongst the many occurring in an Epizooty; but in so far as none of those said to have occurred in London are well authenticated, and certain differences existing between the outbreak investigated by Professor Axe and the one I now take the liberty of bringing to the notice of the profession, the assumption is not warranted that the disease really exists in an epizootic form. The following are the fivc cases (out of the twenty-six) which terminated fatally ;STABLE
A.
Case I. a.-At 8 a.m., on the morning of the 24th of February last, I was called to see an aged chestnut mare in fair condition. On the day previous I had seen the mare and found her dull
Cerebra-spinal Men£llgitis (Enzootic .2).
327
and off her feed, with slight catarrhal symptoms, but no fever was present; pulse and temperature being normal, I ordered her into a loose-box. I found her down and struggling very much. I learned that the watchman saw her, as he described it, go down like a shot about 3 a.m. I had her turned from the near to the off side when she lay quiet; she was perfectly sensible, but now and a.gain had clonic spasms of the muscles in a manner similar to that seen in vomition. The symptoms were so strange that I immediately suspected poisoning, and as the foreman of the yard had given her a fever-drink, I inquired narrowly, but found that no mistake had been made in the medicine. On further examination, I found that pressure on each side of the spine over the lumber vertebra! caused great pain, and as the mare was quite powerless in the hind extremities, the idea that she had received a severe injury to the spine, possibly fracture, gained upon me. Temperature 101°, pulse 55. Hot fomentations to the loins; 01. Lini Opii. Evening, 6 p.m., I examined per rectum and found the bladder distended, so passed catheter; urine normal. Turned her on near side, but in a few minutes she commenced struggling to rise, broke into perspiration, and appeared very much distressed, so had her put on off-side again. 25th.-Breathing stertorous, mucous membranes injected, pulse 70, temperature 105 Q, muscles of the neck rigid, and the head stretched backwards; both legs and tail respond to pricking, showing that common sensation was imperfect, fa!ces natural, bladder paralyzed; passed catheter, urine normal. Grabbed at the food, but mastication slow and irregular; drank gruel. 26th and 2lth.-Little change except in the pulse, which was more frequent and irregular. 28th.-Evidently sinking. Died in the evening in a mad state. Case 11. a.-Bay gelding. Worked on Saturday morning, the 12th March; fed well during the day until the evening, when on leaving the stable for the water, the horsekeeper observed him staggering, and called the attention of the foreman, who ordered him back to the stable, and just as he reached the stall down he went. I saw the horse about 7 p.m., and found him lying
The Veterinary Jour1lal. on the near-side fighting with his fore-limbs, the off hind-leg was thrown about irregularly, and each time striking the near hindfoot and fetlock which was lying motionless. Emprosthotonic symptoms well marked, but appears quite sensible; the temperature IOI~, pulse 55. The larger blood-vessels of the conjunctiva prominent near the edges of the eyelids, the mucous membrane between these appearing paler than in health. I tied him up in slings, but he was quite powerless. On letting him down I laid him on the off-side; he gave a sigh of relief, fed and drank a little, and seemed much easier; I passed the catheter, and found the urine normal. I 3th.-This morning I had the horse turned on the near side; but in a few minutes he commenced fighting with his limbs in a similar manner to the night previous, and appeared very much distressed. I turned him back to the position he had occupied during the night, and with immediate relief to the patient. Emprosthotonic spasms had ceased, and now there was a tendency to opisthotonos, with rigidity of the cervical muscles. Temperature 100", pulse 60. Evening little change. Tried slinging, but neck, with fore and hind extremities, powerless. 14th.-Temperature 104°, pulse 85. Mucous membranes injected, breathing laborious, urine ropy and ammonical, containing a number of white mucous flakes. Evening, no change. 15th.-Temperature 106°, pulse 100, irregular; continued about the same throughout the day. 16th.-Breathing stertorous; irregular spasms over the whole surface of the body; mucous membranes intensely injected; pulse weak and fluttering; temperature 105°; evidently sinking. Died in the evening about 6 p.m. STABLE
B.
Case I. b.-March 23rd. Bay mare, seven years old, was seized with similar symptoms. She lay for five days ; was then raised by the aid of the slings, in which she remained and was progressing favourably until April 2nd, when Tetanus, in an acute form, set in, arising, 1 believe, from a rather severe and bad sore, and the cold easterly winds then prevalent. This mare died on the 4th of April.
Cerebro-spinal Meni1tgi#s (Enzoot£c '!).
329
Case II. b.-April 6th. Black mare, aged, was apparently in . excellent health, feeding and well at 9 a.m. At 9.30 a.m. she staggered and fell in the stall. The primary symptoms were similar to the above, but toward evening it was evident that the brain was implicated to a much greater extent. The eyes were heavy and dull, pupils contracted, and perfect inability to keep the head and neck under proper control when raised in the slings. On putting a pail of water before her, she dipped her head to the bottom, and would have quickly committed suicide by drowning had she been allowed. The temperature gradually rose to 100", and although she made frequent efforts to rise the moment she was got into the slings, she became like a dead thing. The breathing gradually became stertorous, and she died without a struggle. STABLE
C.
Case 1. c.-On Saturday, April 9th, an aged grey mare, after doing about three miles at a gentle pace, was observed to be straddling behind, and evidently weak in the hindquarters. She was put in the stable about 9 a.m., fed and drank well till about noon, when she lay down for about half an hour. She stood apparently in good health till about 4-30, when she was observed to stagger forward .pn the manger, and suddenly fall all of a heap. A short time artet~ards I saw her, when she was quite insensible. Breathing stertorous, 22 per minute, pulse 52, temperature 98 °, chronic spasms of the muscles of the neck and shoulders, opisthotonos, bowels natural, paralysis of the bladder, imperfect deglutition, mucous membranes natural, tympanitis. Withdraw urine, natural. Ioth.-Morning. Neither dunged or staled during the night; has scarcely moved, chronic spasms in fore extremities and neck continuous. Breathing more markedly stertorous, 24 per minute; pulse 100, hard, wiry, irregular; temperature 99°; common sensation in hindquarters complete, tongue paralysed, power of deglutition gone, pupils contracted, urine colour normal, but thick and ropy. Evening. No change except in temperature, which was now IOI t O, and pulse was fluttering and indistinct. She died quietly about 9 p.m. (To be continued.) VOL. XII. AA