MEGRIMS. 101 



break these bones, must likewise irreparably injure the delicate and import- 

 ant organ which they protect. 



The ridge, or outer and upper part of the orbit of the eye, is occasion- 

 ally fractured. It happens from falling, or much oftener from violent blows. 

 The slightest examination will detect the loosened pieces, but a protessiona'. 

 man alone can here render effectual assistance. All, however, that he can do 

 will be gently to replace the parts in their natural situation, and contrive to 

 confine them there by adhesive plasters; to obviate inflammation by bleed- 

 ing, physic, and low diet, and leave the rest to nature. 



We proceed then to the diseases of the head, and the first of these is 

 PRESSURE ON THE BRAIN. This may be produced by some fluid thrown 

 out between the membranes, or occupying and distending the ventricles of 

 the brain. In the grown horse this rarely occurs, but it is well known to 

 breeders as an occasional disease of the foal, under the name of " water in 

 the head." The head is either very much enlarged, or strangely deformed, 

 or both ; and the animal dies either in the act of foaling, or a few days 

 after the birth. 



MEGRIMS. 



There is another kind of pressure on the brain, resulting from an unu- 

 sual determination or flow of blood to it. This organ requires a large 

 supply of blood to enable it to discharge its important functions. It is sup- 

 posed that ten times more blood flows through the brain than through any 

 other part of the frame of equal bulk. Nature, in the horse more than in 

 many other animals, has made some admirable provision to cause this great 

 quantity of blood to flow into the brain without much velocity, and thereby 

 to lessen the risk of suddenly overloading it or rupturing its vessels. The 

 arteries pursue their course to the brain in a strangely winding and circuit- 

 ous manner ; and they enter the skull through bony holes which will admit 

 of the enlargement of the vessel only to a very limited extent : yet, from 

 various causes, of which the most common is violent exercise in a hot day, 

 and the horse being fat and full of blood, more than the usual quantity will 

 be sent to the head : — or from some negligence about the harness, as the 

 collar being too small, or the curb-rein too tight, the blood will be prevented 

 from returning from the head : and thus the larger vessels of the brain will 

 be too long and injuriously distended, and, what is of more consequence, 

 the small vessels which run through the substance of the brain will be 

 enlarged, and the bulk of the brain will be increased, and it will press upon 

 the origins of the nerves, and produce, almost without warning, loss of 

 power and consciousness. 



The mildest affection of this kind is known by the name of Megrims. It 

 comparatively rarely happens when the horse is ridden ; but should he be 

 driven, and, perhaps, rather quickly, he may perform a part of his journey 

 with his usual cheerfulness and ease, when all at once he will stop, shake 

 his head, be evidently giddy, and half unconscious. In a minute or two 

 this will pass over, and he will go on again as if nothing had happened. 



Frequently, however, the attack will be of a more serious nature. He 

 will fall witliout the slightest warning, or suddenly run round once or twice, 

 and then fall. He will either lie in a state of complete insensibility, or 

 struggle with the utmost violence. In five or ten minutes he will begin 

 gradually to come to himself; he will get up, and proceed on his journey, 

 yet somewhat dull, and evidently affected and exhausted by what had hap- 

 pened, although not seriously or permanently ill. 



This is a verv dangerous disease — dangerous to the horse, which will 



