REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 32 



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DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



These are few in the farm horse. Several are of a sympa- 

 thetic character, or depending upon disease in other parts. They 

 merit a place under other heads. 



PflREiS!iTis,or inflammation of the brain, Mad-Staggers, as it is 

 also called, occasions symptoms of the most alarming character, 

 the animal appearing as if bent on literal destruction to every- 

 thing around. It is mostly confined to horses of a higher state 

 of breed, and is often incurable, from the difficulty attending 

 treatment. It consists of inflammation of the covering of the 

 brain, with internal derangement. Blood-letting and purgation 

 must be insisted upon if the animal can be approached, and 

 active blisters to the poll or neck must not be forgotten. In the 

 early stages, during the comatose state, and while the pulse is 

 full and slow, this may be accomplished, but if neglected at that 

 stage no good can be effected afterwards. If the first chance is 

 lost, a most unsatisfactory termination is sure to ensue. 



Tetanus, or Lock-jaw, consists of a peculiar condition of the 

 nervous system, particularly of the spinal chord, by which 

 involuntary contractions of all the muscles take place continually. 

 The legs are stiff, rigid, and set wide apart ; the tail straight and 

 quivers ; the jaws are fixed, rendering mastication or deglutition 

 impossible ; the eyes are fixed, and, if the head is raised, or when 

 the animal moves, they are drawn inwards, and exhibit the 

 white or haw abundantly. The nose is poked out, all the 

 muscles are hard and rigid, and the animal moves as if in one 

 piece. There are two varieties — Traumatic and Idiopathic — the 

 former arising from injuries or wounds, &c, and the latter from 

 other and obscure causes. In young animals it arises from cold 

 and constipation. In older ones, exposure to inclement weather, 

 deficient food, pricks from nails, cuts, wounds, fractures, &c. 



Treatment is very uncertain. First lock up the door, and 

 allow no one to approach but he who can do the most good with 

 the greatest care and effect. Warm rugs, bandages, clean straw, 

 good ventilation, freedom from draughts, and a dark isolated 

 box. Prussic acid, woorari poison, nicotina, indian hemp, bella- 

 donna, chloroform, ether, blood-letting, and purgatives— all have 

 been tried with variable success. The secret lies in the cause 

 and its nature, which is sometimes of a most obscure character. 

 In general, purgatives first, succeeded by prussic acid or bella- 

 donna, have been most useful. Seven, eight, or even nine drams 

 of aloes have been given without any effect having been pro- 

 duced. If, however, the bowels can be opened, and the peculiarly 

 obstinate constipation which exists overcome, a partial cure is 

 estimated. Belladonna should be next given in dram doses 

 between the teeth, every two hours. Enemas of warm water 



