THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 87 



A ligature of waxed thread bound tightly round 

 tlie^e lumoui's, will cause them to drop off after some 

 time. 



Swellings, which sometimes rise on the cap of the 

 hock, or on the point of the elbow, may be said to 

 rank under this head. 



EPILEPSY, OR FITS 



Luckily this disease is not frequent among horses ; 

 but from a difficulty in discovering the precise origin 

 of it, the animal ought, if valuable, to be placed under 

 the care of an able and experienced professor, for if 

 care be not taken, the habit of fits will soon be formed, 

 often returning, at no very distant periods. 



Causes. — These are various. Fulness of blood ; over- 

 feeding and want of exercise, may produce it. On the 

 other hand, too violent exertion and surfeits tend to 

 bring it on ; care should be taken likewise that the 

 collar has not too greai a pressure when m draught, 

 which prevents a free circulation of the blood, and ob- 

 structs its passage from the head. 



Symptoms. — When first attacked, if in exercise, the 

 animal stops suddenly, trembles, looks vacantly and 

 irresolutely around, and presently proceeds ; or other- 

 wise staggers round, and falls insensible ; where, after 

 lying sometimes stretched out as dead, sometimes 

 violently convulsed, he rises, and generally dungs and 

 urmes. 



Treatment. — To prevent Epilepsy is no easy matter 



