112 Veterinary Medicine. 



narrowness of the cranium and space between the ears and 

 with a retreating of the head from the orbits to the poll. Other 

 horses suffer but the majority are of this conformation, and thus 

 the disease acquires a hereditary basis. 



The expre.ssion of the face is characteristic. The ej^e is dull, 

 often sunken, lacking" in vivacity and life, the eyelids are 

 semi-closed, the ears do not prick up to .sounds, the mu.scles of 

 the face are relaxed, so that the lips hang flaccid, and the nostrils 

 fail to dilate freely and rhythmicallj'. The animal is apparently 

 unconscious of all that goes on around him, and is not aroused 

 by the entry or exit of men or horses, by voice or slap, by 

 food or water. His head is probably dropped and resting in 

 the manger, and he raises it .sluggishly w-hen compelled ; when 

 moved from side to side of the stall his legs may retain a 

 position turned outward or crossed one over the other ; if ener- 

 getically roused he wakes up .slowly, and almo.st immediately 

 relapses into his former lethargy, without accomplishing what 

 was called for. When left with legs crossed he often remains so 

 until wearied by the con.strained position, or in danger of falling 

 from loss of balance. Not only the legs but the head will re- 

 tain for a time an abnormal position given to it, — bent, dropped, 

 turned to one side or the other. 



Tins same lethargy extends even to mastication, which is usu- 

 ally performed .slowly and indifferently, and is often interrupted 

 in the middle of the trituration of a morsel which remains in the 

 cheek, on the tongue, or between the teeth, and perhaps hanging 

 out of the mouth. Hence the horseman's expression, he smokes 

 his pipe. 



His mode of drinking is no less singular. Usually the .lower 

 part of the face is dropped deeply into the w-ater, and he will only 

 withdraw it wdien it becomes necessarj' to breathe. He may con- 

 tinue to masticate while drinking. 



When walked or trotted he may move a .short distance all right ; 

 he ma)' even hasten his progress for a short di.stance without 

 refusing meanwhile to respond to the rein, then he may stop 

 and for a short time longer resi.st all efforts with voice, whip, or 

 spur to start him anew. In other cases he will turn to one side, 

 getting into ditches or fences b)' an apparently involuntary action 

 and in defiance of whip or reins. 



