56 The Ailments of Horses. 



unattended with danger if there be any 

 one riding behind the animah It is 

 thought to be most frequent in harness- 

 horses, attributed to collar-pressure. The 

 pressure exercised by a tightly fittingcoUar 

 does undoubtedly prevent the free return 

 of blood from the brain. 



We believe, however, that animals with 

 heart-disease are strongly predisposed to 

 megrims. 



It constitutes unsoundness, though its 

 detection is impossible, as a rule, wiien a 

 horse is examined for the latter by a 

 veterinary surgeon. Its occurrence after 

 certification by this authority would in no 

 way render him liable for breach of faith. 

 The horse usually shows no premonitory 

 symptoms of the impending megrim 

 seizure. 



Sometimes the animal stops and falls 

 to the ground, struggling at once, or it 

 may remain in the standing attitude the 

 whole time. 



Perhaps the shafts will be broken in 

 the act of struggling. The attack lasts 

 but a short time, though the horse may 

 injure itself during the struggle. 



As such animals are unsafe, we must 

 recommend that they never be used for 

 the conveyance of human life. 



By keeping the bowels open, feeding 

 upon soft and easily digested food, the 

 fits can be kept partly in abeyance. 



If the horse is working in a collar, 

 substitute the breastband. 



During a fit, remove the pressure by 

 drawing the collar upwards and forwards, 



