MAD AND SLEEPY STAGGERS. 273 



the pulse gradually sinking. If the case terminates unfavorably, death 

 generally occurs during one of these intervals, or apoplexy may supervene. 

 Some people, who had not previously seen the disease, might think that 

 the horse was actually rabid. In true rabies however the animal is not 

 merely frantic, but positively and wilfully mischievous, and purposely 

 attacks everything dead or living. This is not the case in mad staggers. 

 There is only furious delirium. 



553. Post-mortem examination. 



When animals die in the stage of coma, the vessels of the brain and 

 plexus choroides will probably be found surcharged with blood. An 

 increased quantity of fluid may also be found in the ventricles and under 

 the membrane covering the brain. 



In cases of mad staggers, the membrane of the brain will probably be 

 found to have its blood-vessels tinged with blood ; and should the 

 patient die in the stage of coma supervening on phrenitis, there will be a 

 considerable effusion of serum into the lateral ventricles, or into the 

 cavities within the olfactory nerves, or under the coverings of the brain. 

 This effusion has caused the pressure and the resulting coma. 



The brain itself may in some cases show traces of inflammation by 

 small pin-like heads of blood pervading its structure ; or it may appear 

 yellow and discoloured. In some cases an abscess may have formed in 

 the brain, probably induced by a blow, and pus may have formed. 



When the disease has arisen from indigestion, the stomach will be 

 found distended with food, and the intestines with faeces, and both with 

 gases. 



554. Causes of Sleepy and Mad Staggers. 



Both Sleepy and Mad staggers commonly have their origin in some 

 derangement of the organs of digestion. The horse has a remarkably 

 small stomach, and from it the food passes on quickly to the intestines. 

 In a state of nature the horse is almost always browsing. A gorged con- 

 dition of the stomach very readily arises from horses being freely fed 

 after a long fast. When a horse has fasted any considerable time, food 

 should be given him sparingly, and gradually, and at first it should be of 

 an easily digested character, such for instance as oatmeal gruel. Indi- 

 gestible forage of any sort, and especially stale or old and tough green 

 meat, is also apt to cause derangement of the stomach. Forage to which 

 the stomach is unaccustomed, though it may be good and wholesome of 

 its kind, will also in some cases produce indigestion. It must be borne 

 in mind that the horse cannot, like man or the dog, vomit, and so relieve 

 his stomach. In fact, our means of giving relief in such cases are very 

 circumscribed. From the greater care, however, of late years bestowed 

 on the method of watering and feeding, Staggers arising from such causes 

 has become comparatively rare. 



Both diseases may also arise from pressure on the brain, such as that 

 which may be occasioned by the formation of a tumour or an abscess on 

 the brain or in the lateral ventricles, or by a tumour in the head pressing 



