MODERN FARRIER, 305 



8. INFLAMMATION OF THE BraIN. 



Si/mpfoms. — This serious and fatal disorder is for- 

 tunately of rare occurrence. An animal, when 

 labouring under this disorder, is described as looking 

 frightfully, being unusually watchful, starting often, 

 groaning vehemently, as if affected with sudden 

 and violent pain ; his respiration slow, but he some- 

 times makes very long inspirations, and appears for 

 a time as if his breathing was entirely suspended. 

 Suddenly the beast will rise, turn about, and in- 

 stantly lie down again, showing marks of great rest- 

 lessness and delirium. When the frenzy is high, 

 the eyes look red and furious; at other times they 

 border on langour and stupefaction ; but the beast 

 always appears to labour under considerable fear, 

 and dreads the approach of every thing ; he is often 

 quite ungovernable, and scarcely ever inclines to 

 rest except in the latter stage of the disease, when, 

 if it has been neglected, or has not yielded to the 

 usual remedies, a lethargy takes place, and the ani- 

 mal sinks. Sometimes the urine is hot and high- 

 coloured ; but it is said that before a fit of frenzy 

 takes place, the urine is often of a pale colour, and 

 thinner than natural. 



AVhen the symptoms of fury or irritation suddenly 

 cease, and a lethargy takes place, while the pulse 

 becomes feeble, and the strength diminishes, the 

 case is pretty certainly hopeless ; but if the fever, 

 redness, and flushing of the eyes gradually subside, 

 without the pulse sinking, or great debility coming 

 on, the beast may generally be pronounced re- 

 covering. 



On opening the head of such animals as have died 

 of this complaint, very evident marks of inflamma- 

 tion appear about the membranes of the brain, and 

 very frequently in the substance of the brain itself. 

 All the vessels are turgid with blood ; and on cut- 



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