G MAJ^UAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



admit but of little enlargement of the blood-vessels, and 

 thus to a great extent the progress of inflammation is 

 arrested. Yet, notwithstanding this beautiful provision in 

 nature, the horse is liable to be afflicted with diseases in the 

 brain, from violent and injudicious exercise, and hard driving 

 or riding in warm weather, which forces the blood to the 

 head, and distends the arteries of the brain more than the 

 veins ; and the consequence is, the small vessels which 

 ramify the substance of the brain get gorged with blood, 

 and then its bulk is increased to such an extent that it 

 will produce undue pressure upon the organ of the nerves, 

 which is followed by loss of power and even consciousness, 

 and consequences of a very serious nature frequently follow. 

 The same efiects are also produced by the curb-rein being 

 too tight, or from the collar being too small. 



Symptoms. — The Megrims is the name of the simplest 

 form of inflammation, arising from the above causes. This 

 most commonly appears when a horse is over-driven. When 

 attacked, he will suddenly stop and shake his head, having 

 been seized with giddiness and a slight degree of unconsci- 

 ousness. If allowed to stand for a few minutes, this will 

 go ofi", and he will be enabled to proceed on his journey. 

 But it not unfrequently happens that the attack is of a 

 more severe kind ; and under such circumstances the horse 

 will fall suddenly, or in other cases will run round several 

 times and then fall. Sometimes he will lie quietly in a 

 state of complete torpor ; at other times he will struggle 

 with great violence, and yet be unable to rise. In either of 

 these conditions he will continue for from five to ten minutes, 

 when he will gradually resume sensibility, and then will 

 be able to get on his feet, and may then proceed on the 

 journey. But after these attacks he generally exhibits 

 symptoms of duiness and exhaustion. 



