THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 47 



of straw piled up against the wall or partition next the 

 lame side, that they might rest upon it, and not be 

 exposed to the danger of falling down. One gentle- 

 man, who had a very fine horse seized with this dis- 

 temper, ordered the whole side of the stall to be lined 

 with a triple bass matting, and his litter was spread all 

 across the stable, pretty deep, from the end of the 

 standing, which method was followed by most others 

 under my care, and affected in the same manner, that 

 they might not hurt themselves in case they should 

 move backwards and fall down, but lie easy until they 

 were helped up, for scarce any of them were able to 

 rise of themselves. But most of these horses leaned 

 their lame side altogether against the stall, without 

 moving their posture, till they had pretty well re- 

 covered the use of their limbs, which generally hap- 

 pened in ten or twelve days ; others that were less 

 affected recovered much sooner, so as to be able to 

 stand without leaning. 



" These had all of them fever when they were first 

 seized, which is an usual attendant on convulsed dis- 

 orders, but after bleeding, and other evacuations, their 

 fevers abated, and they began to feed on scalded beans, 

 and pick a litUe hay by the hand. They were bled 

 plentifully, and had clysters and lenitive purges. They 

 were at the same time treated with cephalics and 

 stimulating embrocations outwardly." 



This same writer's description of this disease in all 

 its stages is masterly. After stating his opinion that 

 stoppages in the stomach and intestines, full feeding, 

 want of air, and sufficient exercise in hot and dry wea- 

 ther, and bad food, are chiefly the causes which occa- 

 sions Staggers. He further adds — 



" Other things have also the same effects, as soiling 

 horses with any kind of green herbage, such as vetches 



