i8i 



MAD STAGGERS OE BRAIN FEVER. 



This disease is most frequently met with in 

 the heavy breeds of horses such as are used by 

 millers, brewers, and for farm purposes, and is 

 caused by the animals being too fat and too 

 full of blood, by the chyle having too strong 

 a tendency to widen the vessels, and especially 

 so when the horse is overheated during warm 

 weather. The fever produced thereby causes 

 a determination of blood to the brain, and thus 

 terminating in what is generally denominated 

 brain fever. This disease proceeds from inflam- 

 mation of the brain, and in its earlier symptoms 

 it cannot be distinguished from sleepy or stomach 

 staggers ; it soon, however, assumes a different 

 character, the nostrils become distended, and it 

 commences to heave at the flanks, its eyes assume 

 a fixed vacant and wild stare, which is followed 

 by complete delirium ; it becomes furious and 

 dashes about in a violent manner from side to 

 side, being quite unconscious of its actions. The 

 mad staggers are considerably alike in their 

 symptoms to rabies or common madness, and also 

 to colic. In the former of these maladies the 

 horse retains its consciousness, and the violence 

 of its actions will depend upon the peculiar 

 character of its madness. In some instances a 

 desire to be mischievous is manifested ; in colic 

 the horse rises and falls, although not in a violent 

 manner. Sometimes, however, it plunges, but in 

 most cases it rolls itself about, and frequently 

 looks towards its flanks with an evident expres- 



