INFLAMMATION OF THE BKAIN — MAD STAGGEKS. 15 



gers. Tliis is the only stage of the disease at which treatment 

 can be made to do much good, as the violence of the animal's 

 motions becomes so great in the second stage that it is very 

 dangerous to attempt to handle him. 



After the stupor goes off, the horse commences to show signs 

 of pain ; his nostrils expand ; breathing becomes more rapid ; 

 his eyes, which were before heavy and closed, now open, and he 

 looks around with a wild and vacant stare ; his flanks heave ; 

 his pulse becomes quick and hard ; and very soon delirium 

 comes on. He throws himself about so quickly and violently 

 that no person dare approach him. He manifests no disposi- 

 tion to do harm. He is in a state of entire unconsciousness. 

 His appearance is indeed terrible. These symptoms continue 

 until the animal dies from being worn out by such violent 

 struggling, or he falls into a profound stupor, with stertorous or 

 snoring breathing, and continues in this condition until he dies. 

 Sometimes convulsions of a most fearful character occur dur- 

 ing the progress of the disease, and not unfrequently he dies in 

 convulsions. 



Causes. — The name indicates very well the character of this 

 disease. It is an inflammation, either of the substance of the 

 brain itself, or of the thin membrane that surrounds it. When 

 the horse sinks into profound stupor, after having been frantic, as 

 described, this indicates that a watery fluid, called serum, has 

 been thrown out from the inflamed part, and may be found, on 

 examination after death, in considerable quantity about the 

 brain. 



0\'er- working, in hot weather, especially if the horse is fat, 

 may bring on an attack. Or any exposure that will ordinarily 

 give rise to other inflammatory diseases may produce this. 



Treatment. — The only chance for treatment in this disease is 

 in the early stage, for so violent are the strugglings of the horse 

 in the latter stages, that no person should be required to run the 

 risk of handling him. Prompt physicking has always been re- 

 garded the main reliance in this disease. I prefer giving an 



