206 DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



the horse, have from time to time been given ; and on opening 

 the stomach, these animals have been found uninjured. " The 

 presence of botts in the horse's stomach is not easily ascer- 

 tained, as it is certain that great numbers have been found after 

 death in the stomach, without appearing to have produced any 

 kind of inconvenience to the animal while alive. It does not 

 appear that any effectual remedy has yet been discovered for 

 botts." Mr. Blaine says " that he has kept them alive for 

 some days in olive oil, and in oil of turpentine, and that even 

 the nitrous and sulphuric acids do not immediately destroy 

 them. At a certain season of the year, they detach them- 

 selves from the stomach, and pass off with the excrement." 

 A run at grass is the most effectual remedy. 



Bowels. (See Absorption of the Chyle, part first.) 



Bow-legged. Defective conformation of the legs. 



Box, Loose. A loose box, as it is generally called, is a 

 place wherein a horse is turned without being fastened to the 

 manger or rack; such a place is useful to turn a horse into 

 when he is sick, or when the mare is about foaling. 



Brain. The connection that exists between the brain and 

 stomach by means of the eighth pair of nerves, or par vagum, 

 is the cause of this important organ being often disturbed in 

 its function. Thus it is that when the stomach is loaded with 

 food, its function becomes deranged, and the brain is affected 

 sympathetically. A diseased action is then set up, and all 

 the functions become more or less deranged. A horse in 

 this case will become dull and languid, and sometimes labor 

 under symptoms of apoplexy. In consequence of this ner- 

 vous communication between the stomach and brain, the latter 

 organ is sometimes affected by the irritation of botts in the 

 stomach. The best way to prevent apoplexy, staggers, &c, 

 is, by attention to diet, exercise, &c. (See Feeding, Ex- 

 ercise, part first.) 



Dropsy of the brain does not often occur to horses or cows ; 

 but sheep appear to be more liable to the disease than other 

 quadrupeds. The symptoms of the disorder in horses are 

 variable. " In one case there was a considerable degree of 



