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THE MODERN SYSTEM 



Horses that are of a full plethoric habit, 

 when attacked with this disease should, as 

 soon after recovery as they are able to bear it, 

 be brought under a course of regular evacua- 

 tions ; such as are most applicable to their 

 size, state, constitution, and condition. If they 

 are inclined to fluctuating humours, or viscid 

 heavy foulness, give one or two purging- 

 balls, according to his strength, &c., as before 

 remarked (see list of medicines). If purgative 

 medicine should be considered too strong, 

 •rive him alterative medicine, which will act 

 much milder, and have a good effect. Give 

 tlie Horse at the same time soft food, as bran 

 mashes, or mashes with a little corn in 

 them. 



If the disease should have arisen from 

 worms affecting the stomach, then give the 

 mercurial purging balls (which see in list of 

 medicines.) 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH, 

 OR STOMACH STAGGERS. 



In treating of stomach staggers, there is 

 more importance attached to this disease, than 

 at first sight is thought of, and in conse- 

 quence of which, so many Horses fall victims 

 to the disease ; few, or rarely any, recovering 

 the attack. The disease, generally speaking, 

 almost always proving fatal ; and though 

 many have boasted of being possessed of a 

 remedy, and many cures have been said 

 to have been effected by them, such cures 

 have not taken place in what may be deno- 

 minated stomach staggers. In examining 

 Horses that have died of this disease, the 

 stomach has been generally loaded with hard, 

 dry food ; so large sometimes is the quantity, 

 that it is difficult to conceive how the ato- 



mach could have sustained the load without 

 bursting 



The stomach staggers may exist in a great 

 variety of degrees ; for, it may go on until the 

 stomach will weigh from fifty to sixty pounds ; 

 but, in such a case, I consider it to be of the 

 worst description, and absolutely incurable. 

 The same disease, however, though in a con- 

 siderably less degree, occurs much more fre- 

 quently than the public are aware of. It is 

 often curable by simple means, and without 

 difficulty ; and yet often terminates fatally, 

 through ignorance, or unskilful management. 

 As the degree in which the disease happens 

 is various, so are the symptoms diversified, 

 and distinguished by a variety of names ; they 

 all originate, however, in the same cause, 

 and that is indigestion. The name staggers, 

 has been applied, when the disease exists in 

 a sufficient degree to disturb the functions of 

 the brain : but this does not happen until the 

 vital power of the stomach has been impaired 

 to a certain extent, by a continuance, or a 

 frequent repetition of improper feeding ; and 

 this morbid state of the stomach is more 

 quickly induced, when in addition to improper 

 feeding, the animal is worked hard, and 

 generally ill-treated. How often do we ob- 

 serve a great number of Horses confined the 

 greater part of a market day, in the court or 

 stable of a public-house, without food, and 

 not suffered to eat until they return home, 

 probably a distance of many miles, when they 

 are permitted to eat as much bad indigestible 

 hay, as their craving appetites may lead them 

 to. Thus is a load of indigestible food taken 

 into the stomach, at a time when its vital 

 power has been diminished by fasting ; but 

 such is the power of this important organ, 

 that it will resist for a time even such treat- 



