DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIilALS. 47 



and watch closely for some time, for it is sometimes very deceptive ; 

 when you think it doing well, it may terminate fatally. It may show 

 impaired nervous influence for some time after ; use bromide potas- 

 sium and stimulants. Animals may be prevented from sunstroke, 

 after premonitory symptoms, by putting off work, and using judicious 

 preventives — st mulants, followed by a gentle laxative. But if put to 

 work in such cases he may present a well marked case of sunstroke. 

 This may affect the spinal cord to a certain extent ; give injections, 

 and keep from the rays of the sun 



Concussion of the Brain is rather common. It may result from 

 the horse running away and coming in contact with some obstacle ; 

 rearing up and falling back. It is not so common in horses as in man. 

 The animal may rally quickly, die suddenly, or linger for some time ; 

 may have some congestion of the brain. 



Symptoms. — The animal loses all power and sensibility ; may have 

 convulsions, or may lie without any signs of life, pupil dilated, pulse 

 weak ; even if the pulse is quick but regular, there is hope of recovery, 

 but if there is a case of fracture, there is not so much hope. But if 

 there are any signs of consciousness, and the animal attempts to get 

 up, he will rise upon the hind legs first, and it will be some time 

 before he can get the forequarters up. In some cases the animal gets 

 well quickly. 



Treatment. — Similar to that of sunstroke ; cold water to the head, 

 but not in very cold weather. Covering the body and leaving the 

 head vincovered, may do instead of water in very cold weather. Small 

 doses of stimulants ; keep the body warm ; give injections, and get 

 him upon his feet, and you may have to use slings. You may have 

 phrenzy present itself, and if it does, treat according to treatment of 

 phrenzy. A horse suffering from concussion may stand with head 

 hanging down, from impaired circulation. Hypostatic congestion is 

 likely to follow ; nostrils and head swollen, etc. In such cases, sup- 

 port the head well with nice wide web ; or if you cannot support it, 

 you may find it necessary to lay the horse down. Give laxative medi- 

 cine; it is of great use in such cases. Bathe the limbs with warm 

 water in all cases where the circulation of the blood is impaired. 

 Blood-letting in such cases I do not think is to be recommended, but 

 there may be exceptional cases. 



Megrims, Epilepsy, Vertiaro, Head Stag:gers. are morbid condi- 

 tions of the brain, getting the names from the way the horse uses 

 himself. It may proceed from a variety of causes. It may be from 

 temporary congestion of the brain, or may result from anything that 

 will interfere with the flow of blood. It may be symptomatic of dis- 

 ease of the heart. Some horses suffer from working in a collar, which 

 would not so suffer if put under the saddle ; but it generally comes 

 from some obscure cause, as faulty digestion, but most likely just due 

 to some morbid condition of the brain, very hard to account for, or 

 you may find a tumour in the brain. A highly nervous animal is 

 more subject than one of the opposite temperament. 



Symptoms. — Attack is sudden ; the animal staggers, is unmanage- 

 able, and falls to the^ ground. Symptoms may pass in a few minutes, 

 and the animal may in some cases be as well as ever. But such a 

 horse is a very dangerous animal to handle, for he may fall or become 

 perfectly unmanageable at any time. It is due to temporary conges- 

 tion of the brain, or to impaired flow of blood to the head. In some 

 cases you have the premonitory symptoms, such as dulness, peculiar 

 appearanceof the eye, etc., while in others you do not have the symp- 



