D8 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



head hangs ; disposed to press it against something ; re- 

 fuses to eat ; when forced to change position, shows want 

 of control over movements ; disposed to press head against 

 wall again ; breathing more or less stertorous. 



The mad stage is dangerous; horse liable to do any- 

 thing. This stage appears to be very rare. 



The symptoms of grass staggers develop gradually. Pa- 

 ralysis of hind limbs ; in a day or two the weakness in- 

 creases ; reels in walking ; danger of falling ; disinclined 

 to lie down ; anxious countenance ; partial paralysis of 

 fore legs; perfect consciousness; calm; bowels rather 

 confined; urine, appetite, breathing, and pulse natural. 

 In severe cases there is the same disposition to stand, 

 even steadying body against wall or stall. Muscular twitch- 

 ings sometimes occur, and in rare cases brain disturbance ; 

 when unable to stand and down, muscular twitchings usu- 

 ally excessive; limbs move automatically; consciousness 

 impaired ; breathing stertorous ; death near. These symp- 

 toms may vary, but chiefly as to rapidity of development 

 or intensity in individual cases. 



Remedy. — Aloes or calomel and oil to unload the 

 stomach and bowels. Ether or spirit of ammonia every 

 two hours overcomes flatulence and spasm. Clysters, hand 

 rubbing, exercise. Hot fomentations or cloths wrung out 

 of hot water, or in-rubbing of merely warming dose of 

 mustard, abate spasm and pain. If pain persists, morphine 

 and atrophine hypodermically. One or two doses of acon- 

 ite tincture sometimes useful. Bleeding sometimes advisa- 

 ble if brain disturbance or breathing occurs. A long, fine 

 trocar and canula in extreme swelling. Strychnine and 

 counter-irritants to spine for paralysis. In young animals, 

 where stomach is overloaded with clots of curd, oil, fol- 

 lowed by ether or spirit of ammonia. 



For doses, see pages 13 to 29. 



