APOPLEXY. 73 



pfwip {one of the most valuable discoveries of modern times), and 

 iujectioiis of warm water. The latter may be continued not 

 only until the contents of the stomach are so lar diluted as to 

 escape by the anus, but until the obstruction to vomiting offered 

 by the contracted entrance of the stomach is overcome, and a 

 portion of the food is returned through the nostrils or mouth. 



This being effected, or it having been ascertained that there 

 was no extreme distention of the stomach, recourse should be 

 had to aloes, and from eight to twelve drachms of it may be ad- 

 ministered. It will be proper to add some stimulating medicine 

 to the aloes, with a view of restoring the tone of the stomach, 

 and inducing it to contract on its contents. Gentian and ginger 

 are most likely to effect this purpose. 



The after-treatment must be regulated by circumstances. For 

 some time the horse should be put on a restricted diet ; mashes 

 should be given ; green food in no great quantity ; a moderate 

 allowance of hay, and very little grain. When sufficiently re- 

 covered, he may be turned out with advantaire on rather bare 

 pasture. One circumstance, however, should never be forgotten 

 — that the horse who has once been attacked with staggers is 

 liable to a return of the complaint from causes that otherwise 

 would not affect him. The distended vessels are weakened — 

 the constitution is weakened, and prudence would dictate that 

 such an animal cannot be too soon disjiosed of. 



Let no one delude himself with the idea that apoplexy is con- 

 tagious. It is so under no circumstances, though the same kind 

 of mismanagement may produce repeated cases of it nearly at 

 the same time, and in the same establishment.* 



" JS^ote by Mr. Spooner. — With regard to those diseases which come under 

 the denomination of staggers, we have, certainly, three varieties, though 

 neither of them are so prevalent as they were formerly. 



Mad staggers is undoubtedly inflammation of the brain, and is charac- 

 terized by those symptoms of extreme violence spoken of in the text. 

 These symptoms may be preceded by the sleepy stage, or may occur with- 

 out it. In sleepy staggers, as it used to be called, one of the most striking 

 symptoms is a disposition to thrust the head forwards, and it is surprishig 

 with Avhat force and determination this will be done. Thus resting his head, 

 the horse will doze for hours. Now, there are certainly two diseases pre- 

 senting these symptoms. One, which has been denominated stomach stag- 

 gers, arises from distention of the viscus with food. Such is the sympathy 

 between the stomach and the brain, that distention of the former will pro- 

 duce very similar symptoms to that when the brain is primarily chseased. 

 We are, however, very much in the dark as to whether distention of the 

 stomach with food is a cause or an effect; that is, whether it is caused by 

 indigestion arising from a want of tone in the nervous system, or whether 

 distention of the stomach with food is at once the cause of all the other symp- 

 toms. 



Stomach staggers used formerly to be very prevalent, owing to the causes 

 Darned in the text. In this disease there is a very great disposition tt- 



