HORSES AND MULES. 321 



Other and predisposing causes. Apoplexy is always cliaracler- 

 ized by giddiness and wildness of motion, and nearly always by 

 a staggering gait. Hence the reason why it is so frequently 

 mistaken for "the staggers." 



Its severe symptoms in the next stage are profuse sweating, 

 a trembling of the whole frame and especially of the knees ; a 

 wild, wistful look and a twitching of the skin, and jerking of the 

 ears. Youatt's description is perfect. 'The actual illness is 

 perhaps first recognized by the horse standing with his head 

 depressed. It bears upon or is forced against the manger or the 

 wall, and a considerable part of the weight of the animal is 

 evidently supported by this pressure of the head. As ue thus 

 stands he is balancing himself from one side to the other as if 

 he Were ready to fall ; and it is often dangerous to stand near 

 him or to move him, for he falls without warning. If he can 

 get his muzzle into a corner he will sometimes continue there 

 motionless for a considerable time, and then drop, as if he were 

 shot; but, the next moment he is up again -syith his feet almost 

 in the rack {we think the last is a rare exhibition. 0. W. D.). 

 He sleeps or seems to, do so, as he stands, or at least he is nearly 

 or quite unconscious of surrounding objects. When he is 

 roused, he looks vacantly around him. Perhaps he will take a 

 lock of hay if it is offered to him, but ere it is half masticated 

 the eye clo?;ea, and he sleeps again with the food in his mouth, 

 soon afterwards he is perhaps roused once more. The eye 

 opens, but it has an unmeaning glare. The hand is moved be- 

 fore him, but the eye closes not ; he is spoken to, but he hears 

 not. The last act of voluntary motion which he will attempt is 

 usually to drink ; but he has little power over the nniscles of 

 deglutition, and the fluid returns through the nostrils." These 

 are the first stages ; foaming, gnashing of teeth, twitching, wild- 

 ness and cmvulsions follow. As there is a pressure of blood 



