THE STAGGERS, OK APOPLEXY. 9 



in this condition from one to twelve hours ; he then falls 

 His eyes are open and protruding, with a fixed, seemingly 

 unconscious, stare, with the pupils much dilated ; he grinds 

 his teeth, the whole frame manifests twitchings, the vein of 

 the neck is inflated, his muzzle is cold, and in attempting 

 to swallow, the drink is returned by the nostrils and mouth, 

 and he dungs involuntarily : strong convulsive twitchings 

 follow, and these are the certain preludes to death. 



In the first stages of the disease it comes on progressively, 

 with depression, sleepiness, and feebleness, which is distinctly 

 indicated by dulness of the eye. As it increases, he presses 

 his head against the wall or th*^. rack, and when aroused 

 from this position he seems alarmed. 



Causes. — A deranged state of the digestive organs is the 

 most ordinary cause, and this is the effect of over-feeding 

 in many cases. Some persons are so foolish as to suppose 

 that horses may have as much grain as they can eat, and 

 that it will do them no harm. This is a serious mistake ; 

 because, even without the aid of water, the grain will swell 

 in the stomach, and from being completely overloaded, in- 

 digestion follows, the stomach being too much distended to 

 be able to perform its ofifice. Hence the head is affected ; 

 as in the animal economy a very intimate connexion exists 

 between the brain and stomach, each reciprocally influencing 

 the other. The want of air and exercise with horses which 

 are highly fed also tend strongly to derange the stomach, 

 more especially during warm weather. The bracing in- 

 fluence of exercise being wanting to give energy to the 

 actions of the intestinal canal, the food frequently lodges 

 there. This is also caused by the food being bad. Another 

 cause is irregularity in watering horses, as this element is 

 peculiarly necessary to animals which live upon dry food. 

 Every horse should be watered at least four tim.es during the 



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