910 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



proper substances, &c. Inflammations terminate in various ways; but it is to be 

 remarked, that in consequence of tlie very large circulatory system in the horse, his febrile 

 affections rage higher, and terminate sooner than in man. The usual termination of in- 

 flammatory affections in the horse, are by resolution, effusion, suppuration, and gangrene. 

 Schirrus is not at all a common termination of inflammation in the horse. 



5760. Inflammation of the brain (pkrenitis), brain fever, phrensy fever, staggers, mad and sleepy. 

 There are few diseases more likely to be mistaken by inexperienced farriers than this ; it is not to be 

 wondered at, therefore, if indifferent persons should be led into error by it. It apjx^ars in two forms, 

 a violent frantic one, and a sleepy lethargic one, and the latter appearance is also common to a disease, 

 not dependent as this is, on idiopathic inflammation of the brain ; but on a paralytic affection of the 

 stomach, and thence it is called stomach staggers. This latter affection, however, may be distinguished 

 from the former by attending to the color of the eyelids, nose linings, mouth, &c., which ' in stomach 

 staggers are usually more yellow than red : whereas in sleepy staggers, they are more red than yellow. 

 Inflammation of the brain shows itself in general cases by disinclination to food and motion, drowsiness, 

 accompanied by a heaviness and closing of the eyelids, with moisture and redness of them ; and also of 

 the linings of the mouth and nose. Sometimes these symptoms increase until the horse becomes coma- 

 tose, and after a few frightful struggles, he sinks to rise no more. In these cases the pulse is apt to be 

 oppressed instead of increased. But most frequently after the first stages he becomes furious, plunges 

 about, and is vicious to himself and others, approaching to a state of madness, in which state he continues 

 till he sinks from his own exertions, when he rises again to renew his violence. 



5761. The causes of staggers may be various : the immediate are either an original accumulation of 

 blood within the brain, or the translation of the inflammation of some organ to the brain : as a remote 

 cause it is often brought on by too full feeding, without sufficient exercise, and particularly in horses at 

 one time working very hard, and at another suffered to remain inactive} but which horses, whether used, 

 or not, are equally fed. Sudden cold, violence, &c. may bring it on. 



5762. The treatment of staggers should be begun by abstracting a very large quantity of blood promptly, 

 i)y opening both jugulars, and letting the horse bleed to the amount of ten or even twelve quarts ; repeat- 

 ing the same until the delirium ceases. After the first bleeding, back rake, throw up a laxative clyster 

 \Vet. Pharm. 5895.), blister the head, promote a current of free air in the stable, and treat altogether as 

 .directed under other febrile affections. 



5763. Locked jaw, stng-evit, or tetanus, arises from cold, excessive fatigue, sometimes perhaps from 

 worms, but more often from a wound of some part, as pricks in shoeing, &c. Such wound is seldom in a 

 recent state; but after two or three weeks' continuance, sometimes after it has healed even: it follows 

 docking, gelding, and nicking frequently; and is preceded by a flabby unhealthy state of the wound. It 

 appears as an affection of the brain, which transmits its morbid irritation, particularly to the nerves at- 

 tached to muscles, by which they become cramped, or maybe considered as in a high state of action, giving 

 the horse a peculiar look of energy, as though immediately stopped from full speed ; with his nostrils ex- 

 tended, his head raised, and nose carried forward ; his legs straddle wide, and his tail is cocked and 

 quivers, as after violent exercise. The jaws will now be found, if not closed, yet nearly so, when he is 

 called jaw set. 



5764. The treatment is not often successful, but, however, it is sufficiently frequent that it is so, to de- 

 serve the utmost attention. Blaine informs us that enormous bleedings have succeeded; but he places 

 his principal dependence on the application of cold by the means of ice, or of constant dashing with cold 

 water, with an active blister applied the whole length of the spine. Balls of camphor and opium, to the 

 amount of two drachms of each, may be given every three hours. If any room remains in the mouth, the 

 ball may be passed up by means of a stick, or it may be given as a drink by means of a syringe ; and even 

 when the mouth is entirely closed, he informs us we may give a drink by the nostrils. Moorcrofl 

 used cold also. Fearon, on the contrary, has experienced benefit from a bath, heated to ninety degrees, 

 and kept at that temperature for three hours. White recommends camphor and opium ; Wilkinson of 

 Newcastle has been very successful by keeping up heat and stimulus over the skin in general, by means of 

 newly stripped sheep skins put on hot Perhaps if the body were previously rubbed with oil of turpentine 

 one part, and common oil two parts, it might assist Wilkinson's plan. When locked jaw arises from nick- 

 ing, it might be prudent for a veterinary surgeon to dissect down on the nerves of the tail, and divide 

 them ; and when from nicking, it would be advisable at once to cut off another portion of the tail, 

 which practices in both instances would afford a moderate chance of saving the animal. It is necessary 

 further to remark, that it is of great consequence that the bowels be kept free from fffices, by raking and 

 clysters. With regard to the latter they are very important in this disease, as a medium, commonly the 

 only one, of giving support. A horse has been kept alive on nourishing clysters alone, for seven or eight 

 davs. {Vet. Phartn. 5897.) 



5765. Catarrhal fever, epidemic catarrh, influenza, distemper, cold, morfoundering, Sfc. These names 

 apply to one common disease, which often in rainy, variable seasons, appears as an epidemic, and aflfects 

 thousands of horses at once. It is observed to be particularly prevalent in this form in the spring of some 

 years, more than of others. It is not contagious, like the more malignant form, but is brought on as an 

 epidemic by the same causes being applied to nearly all subjects alike ; which are alternations of heat with 

 oold, moisture and dryness, &c. In crowded cities and large towns it is more prevalent than in more 

 open situations, and it is more frequently found in the young than in aged horses. Where it does not 

 exist as an epidemic, it is brought on by an accidental cold taken. It is of great consequence to distin- 

 guish it from pure inflammation of the lungs, with which it is very apt to be confounded; and which 

 mistake is often a fatal one, from the treatment being in some essential particulars different. Inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs commences by a short cough, without much other disturbance to the health, than tlie 

 pain it gives the horse to cough, but which is often so considerable as to make him stamp his feet while 

 coughing. If a horse in the distemper coughs early, it is }iot a hollow, harsh sounding, and distressing 

 cough of this kind ; if he expresses uneasiness, it is principally from a sore throat, which is very common in 

 distemper, but by no means common in pneumonia. The sore throat in distemper gives the horse a dis- 

 position to refuse his food, or he chews it and lets the quid fall without swallowing it. He refuses water, 



Particularly if it be placed on the ground ; his cough is quick, short, and usually sounds more moist than 

 arsh and dry ; but though common, this is not invariably the case; his eyes are heavy and moist, his 

 breathing is quickened, and his ears and legs are alternately hot and cold. His nose on looking into it 

 is redder than usual, and sometimes his glands, as well submaxillary or jaw glands, as his parotid or 

 vives, are tumefied. On the second or third day excessive weakness comes on; the cough becomes more 

 painful, the pulse is quickened, and the nose begins to run. After which the horse either runs off the 

 disease by this suppuration, or it goes on to destroy him by the height of the fever, and degree of weak- 

 ness produced, or by suffocation from water in the chest. Now and then, although recovery takes place, 

 an obstinate cough is left ; and in a tew cases the disease terminates in glanders. 



5766. TAe^r^ra^/rtewf may in some cases be cut very short ; for as in almost every instance a shivering 

 fit begins the disease, so when many horses are in a stable, and the disease is very prevalent, those who 

 have not been attacked should be watched, and the moment such an attack does take place, give of 

 sweet spirit of nitre, or when not at hand of spirit of hartshorn, an ounce, in a pint of sound ale. 

 Exercise the horse briskly, then well hand rub him, clothe him warmly ; and it is more than probable 

 that the disease will be cut short. But should it proceed, or should the disease have gone on unobserved 

 to the appearance of the symptom Retailed, begin by bleeding moderately, if the horse be not already 



