STAGGERS, CONVULSIONS, &C. 79 



Mad staggers, or mjlammation of the brain, 

 is generally preceded by symptoms of oppression 

 of the brain, as those just mentioned, in treating 

 of sleeping staggers ; and the one, as I have said, 

 frequently terminates in the other ; though I have 

 several times known mad staggers come on very 

 suddenly, without any previous notice, and appear 

 as a primary affection. In mad staggers the horse 

 is raging ; and if care is not taken, he will knock 

 and bruise his head in a shocking manner. Some- 

 times he drops down as if he were shot ; rises 

 again, and is as furious as ever. In this state it is 

 dangerous to approach him. The stable should 

 be well stuffed, or bolstered with straw, so that he 

 cannot strike his head against the wall. 



Staggers may arise from various causes, and 

 chiefly such as favour a determination of blood to 

 the head ; as when the stomach is distended with 

 too much food, the motion of the midriff or dia- 

 phragm is impaired ; and hence the free circulation 

 through the lungs is prevented, and a congestion 

 of blood in the head follows. This fulness of the 

 stomach is a source of great irritation, and thus 

 also affects the head from sympathy. Violent 

 exercise likewise produces it ; and, perhaps, it also 

 arises from a primary or a common fever transferred 

 to the brain. The greatest number of horses that 



