174 MEGRIMS. 



MEGRIMS. 



There are but few diseases in the horse, respecting the nature of which 

 so many clifFerent views have been entertained, and of which, nevertheless, 

 even at the present day, so little is understood, as megrims. By some it 

 has been considered as a mild form of apoplexy, depending upon an undue 

 supply of blood to the brain, and by others upon just the opposite state, 

 viz. some obstruction to the natural supply of blood to that organ. Mr, 

 Percivall treats of it as a species of vertigo, but probably the more general 

 opinion at the present time inclines to the belief that it is a disease analo- 

 gous to that termed epilepsy in the human subject. It is occasionally 

 met with in all classes of horses and under a variety of circumstances, 

 when both at rest and at work, but much more frequently amongst horses 

 that are used for harness purposes, especially when used for that pai-pose,- 

 ou the bright, sunny days of spring and summer. 



It comparatively rarely happens when the horse is ridden ; but should 

 he be driven, and perhaps lather quickly, he may perform a part of his 

 journey with his usual cheerfulness and ease ; he will then suddenly stop, 

 shake Ids head, and exhibit evident giddiness and half-unconsciousness. 

 In a minute or two this will pass over, and he mil go on again as if 

 nothing had happened. 



Occasicmally, however, the attack will be of a more serious nature. 

 He Mdll fall without the slightest warning, or suddenly run round once or 

 twice, and then fall. He will either lie in a state of comjjlete insensibility, 

 or struggle with the utmost violence. In five or ten minutes he "will begin 

 gradually to come to himself; he will get up and proceed on his journey, 

 yet somewhat dull, and evidently afi'ected and exhausted by what had 

 happened, although not seriously or permanently ill. 



This is a very dangerous disease — dangerous to the horse, which mil 

 occasionally die on the spot, and particularly dangerous to those who drive 

 him, for there Avill be no warning or opportunity to escape. When the 

 horse is attacked with megrims, the first object of the driver should be 

 to control the violence of the animal as much as possible ; he should loosen 

 the curb-rein, ease the collar, and, if at hand, dash some cold water over 

 the animal's head, and pursue liis journey as slowly as circumstances will 

 permit. When the horse gets home a dose of purgative medicine should 

 be given to him, and be kept on bran-mash for tlii-ee or four days, great 

 attention being afterwards paid to the state of the digestive organs. Is 

 all this necessary because a horse has happened to have a fit of the me- 

 gi"ims ? Yes, and more too, in the mind of the prudent man ; for it is 

 seldom that the horse has the megrims without the predisposition to a 

 second attack remaining. The testimony of experience is uniform in re- 

 gard to this, and he would not do justice to himself or his family who 

 trusted himself behind a horse that had a second attack of megrims. The 

 numbers of horses that in London are constantly being sold and resold on 

 account of this malady, is perfectly astonishing. There are a set of men 

 about town, known by the name of 'touters,' who either personally, or 

 through the medium of the common sale yards, dispose of an animal with 

 this affection at prices varying from 151. to oOl. In a short time the 

 unfortunate purchaser discovers his mistake, and is too happy to get rid 

 of him for a few pounds, to be resold to a fresh victim. So notoriously 

 is this the case, that some horses are so well known to be subject to these 

 attacks, that a roar of laughter announces their arrival in the j^ard. 



