DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 683 



Outbreaks of gastritis prevail in some parts of Scotland 

 during the spring and early summer, and is known by the term 

 " grass staggers ; " and Mr. Clark of Coupar- Angus, in a paper 

 read before the Scottish Metropolitan Veterinary Association, 

 July 4th, 1894, has given an able description of this disease after 

 an experience of twenty years in a district where the disease 

 prevails to a remarkable extent. He states that animals of all 

 ages and breeds become attacked when placed in fields favour- 

 able to the development of the disease, such fields being 

 generally poor land or good land poorly treated, and whicli 

 have been sown with too large a portion of rye-grass and too 

 small a qiiantity of permanent grasses. When the quantity of 

 rye-grass has been diminished, and that of the permanent ones 

 increased, the disease has disappeared from land known to be 

 favourable to its development. 



The disease appears in about a month after the cattle have 

 been turned out, and to disappear upon the advent of the white 

 clover, which occurs from the 10th to loth of June in Mr. 

 Clark's district. 



The disease is dangerous on first year's grass, less so on the 

 second, and rarely, if ever, on a third year's crop ; but it has 

 been known not to attack on the first, but during the second 

 year's crop. 



Artificial feeding seems to diminish and modify attacks, but 

 prevention can only be effectual by the diminution of the 

 quantity of rye-grass sown, increase of the natural ones, and 

 better treatment of the land. 



The premonitory symptoms are obscure : the animal loiters 

 about, feeding occasionally, and when lying down there is a 

 flapping or restless movement of the ears and intermittent 

 tremors at the elbow and flank, and any excitement, even at 

 this stage, such as driving from the field, is apt to induce loss 

 of vision. The next symptom is purging, the freces being black 

 and watery, with entire loss of appetite, failure of milk, grinding 

 of the teeth, accelerated pulse, cold extremities, blindness, but 

 the sense of hearing seems to be very acute. There is no 

 elevation of temperature. 



In three days the crisis is reached, when the animal may 

 become intensely excited, bellows fiercely, presses the head 

 against the walls, and has violent tremors ; and, if unfastened, 



