354 AXNALS OF THE ROAD. 



if, with a heavy load behind him, he snatches at his 

 collar in a turn of the road. 



Coach horses are also subject to a kind of vertigo, 

 or what we call on the road the megrims. Doubtless 

 this is caused by a temporary pressure on the brain, and 

 may therefore be termed one degree of apoplexy. 

 This is often brought on by running in the face of a hot 

 sun, and for this reason horses subject to the megrims 

 ought to work at night. The attack comes on very 

 suddenly, though a snatching motion of the head some- 

 times precedes it. If not immediately pulled up, the 

 horse drops. Coach horses thus afflicted should have 

 attention paid to the state of their bowels, and partake 

 often of antimonial alteratives. Worms are said to 

 produce the megrims. What we call on the road ' a 

 megrim horse,' is always dangerous, as, when seized with 

 the complaint, he rolls away from his partner, and of 

 course takes him with him. It is dangerous, therefore, 

 to drive such a horse near to a precipice or ditch. 



Hot weather has a singular effect on many horses, 

 and it often happens that what we call a good winter 

 horse is frequently a very indifferent one in the summer. 

 Mr. Richard Lawrence's reasons why coach horses, in 

 the hot months, should be wetted all over with cold 

 water before they commence their stage, are founded I 

 dare say on what he terms ' pure philosophical principles,' 

 but I fear he will never establish his doctrine. Indeed, he 

 does not appear to entertain such a notion, though I see 

 no good reason why. Appearances are trifles when put 



