APOPLEXY. 171 



that disease. "When aroused by some sudden noise, he starts up in a state 

 of alarm, appearing frightened, looks up, and perhaps recognises those near 

 him, and then relapses into his former state of stupor. The pulse is slow 

 and oppressed, with the respiration laboured. The stomach frequently 

 contains but little food, and no distension of the abdomen is present. By 

 way of treatment a full dose of aloes, in combination with calomel, should 

 be given, and a blister at once applied to the upper and back part of the 

 head. The animal in the meantime should be kept perfectly quiet, and 

 allowed nothing but soft food, such as bran-mash, &c. to eat. Should the 

 symptoms not pass off in a few days, an attack of phrenitis will generally 

 foUow. 



APOPLEXY, 



Although apoplexy is a disease somewhat rare in the horse compared 

 ■with man, it much resembles it in its generally fatal termination. It de- 

 pends upon some undue pressui^e on the substance of the brain, and may 

 result from several causes, such as tumours pressing on the brain, fracture 

 and depression of bone, or rupture of some blood-vessel, and extravasation 

 of blood, either the result of injury, siich as concussion, or as a termination 

 of a congested state of the vessels of the brain. Apoplexy as resulting 

 from the last-named cause is the form in Avhich Ave most commonly meet 

 with the disease in the horse, being generally a termination of stomach 

 staggers. The symptoms will depend upon the cause in operation. Wlien 

 apoplexy is produced by fracture and depression of bone or the sudden 

 rupture of some blood-vessel, the result of violence, the symptoms aa^II 

 immediately follow the injury, but when it is produced by the giAT-ug way 

 of the previously congested blood-vessels, we have usually some premoni- 

 tory symptoms. These vnll be found described under stomach staggers, 

 and may continue for some days, when they suddenly assume a more 

 serious character. 



The animal, which has hitherto been only in a partly unconscious state, 

 v\dll now be found perfectly insensible ; the eye opens, but it has an un- 

 meaning glare ; the hand is moved before him, but the eye closes not ; 

 he is spoken to, but he hears not. 



He now begins to foam at the mouth. His breathing is laborious and 

 loud. It is performed by the influence of the organic nerves, and those of 

 animal life no longer lend their aid. The pulse is slow and oppressed — 

 the muzzle is cold, and the discharge of the faeces invohintary. He grinds 

 his teeth — twitchings steal over his face and attack his hmbs — they some- 

 times proceed to convulsions, a,nd dreadful ones too, in which the horse 

 beats himself about in a terrible manner ; but there is rarely disposition to 

 do mischief. In the greater number of cases these convulsions last not long. 

 The last act of voluntary motion which he will attempt is usually to drink : 

 but he has httle power over the muscles of deglutition, and the fluid re- 

 tiu-ns through the nostrils. All the powers of life are oppressed, and death 

 speedily closes the scene. 



Little can be hoped from the treatment of apoplexy, as in most cases all 

 our efforts will fail in afibrding rehef. If there be time for medical treat- 

 ment, our first effort should be to prevent inflammation, and jDrocure 

 absoi'ption of the extravasated blood. Copious bleeding, therefore, from 

 the jugular vein, to the extent of seven or eight quarts, should be at once 

 had resort to, and a full dose of purgative medicine, from eight to ten 

 drachms of aloes, administered ; clysters also of warm Avater and soap, 

 should be frequently thro-«Ti up the rectum. The animal should be allowed 

 plenty of cool air, and be kept perfectly quiet. Should the more active 

 symptoms abate, which there is too much fear will rarely be the ease, care 



