170 SLEEPY STAGGERS. 



service of the Ordnance, it Avas the custom to turn horses which had 

 become low in condition, but were still well upon their legs, iiito the 

 marshes, in order to recruit their strength. During the months of July, 

 August, and September, nothing was more common than an attiick of 

 staggers among these horses, and which was naturally attributed to the 

 luxuriant pasture they were turned into, combined "svith the dependent 

 posture of the head, and the sultry heat to which they were exposed.' 



\VTien the horse is attacked with stomach staggers, he generally appears 

 dull and sleepy, standing with his head hanging do-\\Ti, and supported by 

 the manger, or pushed forward against the wall, breathing heavily, with a 

 slow, oppressed pulse, bowels constipated and abdomen frequently dis- 

 tended. He sleeps or seems to do so, as he stands, being partly uncon- 

 scious of surrounding objects. Wlien aroused he vnW look vacantly around, 

 perhaps seize a lock of hay, and doze again ■with it in his mouth. He may 

 continue in this state for several days, and will either begin slowly to 

 recover, or the symptoms will take a more violent form and terminate 

 either in apoplexy or phrenitis. In regard to the treatment, it Avill be 

 necessary for the OT^Tier or the veterinary attendant to institute very care- 

 ful inquiry, or he will not detect the real causes of the disease. Does it 

 arise from improper management, to which the horse has been in a manner 

 habituated ? Had he been subjected to long labour and fasting, and had 

 then the opportunity of gorging to excess ? Did it proceed from accidental 

 repletion — from the animal having got loose in the night, and found out 

 the corn or the chaff bin, and filled himself almost to bui^sting ? There 

 is nothing in the appearance of the animal which vnW lead to a discovery 

 of the cause — no yellowness or t^vitchings of the skin, no local swellings, 

 as some have described ; but the practitioner or the owner mu.st get at the 

 truth of the matter as Avell as he can, and then proceed accordingly. 



Our first object, then, should be to remove if possible the causes in 

 operation producing this disease, and with this view large doses of 

 oleaginous purgatives should be administered, and repeated every six 

 hours, and dui'ing the interval a stimulant, such as the aromatic spu-it of 

 ammonia, given in large quantities of water ; clystei'S also of soap and warm 

 water should be frequently administered, and all food removed from the 

 animal. Should this treatment have the desired effect and the horse 

 begin to exhibit signs of returning consciousness, he should be kept quiet 

 for a time, care being taken to keep the bowels freely open, and nothing 

 but soft and easily digestible food allowed him. If any staggering remains, 

 a blister should be appKed at the back of his head. When sufficiently 

 recovered he may be turned out with advantage on i-ather bare pasture. 

 One circumstance, however, should never be forgotten, that the horse who 

 has once been attacked with staggers is liable to a return of the complaint 

 from causes that would not otherwise affect him. Let no farmer delude 

 himself with the idea that stomach staggers is contagious. If his horses 

 have occasionally sHght fits of staggers, or if the disease carries off several 

 of them, he may be sure there is something wrong in his'management. 

 One horse may get at the cora-bin and cram himself to bursting, but if 

 several are attacked, it is time for the owner to look about him. 



SLEEPY STAGGERS. 



Although this disease much resembles stomach staggers in its general 

 characters, it cannot be traced to the same cause, viz., derangement of the 

 digestive organs, but is generally considered to be a primary disease of 

 the brain. The symptoms are much the same as in stomach staggers, the 

 animal appearing dull and sleepy, pushing his head forward in a peculiar 

 manner against the wall or manger, not however with so much force as in 



