MEGEIMS, OE VERTIGO. 921 



is frequentlj^ called megrims, Jits, and mad staggers; but in part only 

 one disease, according to the extent of such disease as the animal 

 may be affected with. 



"The cause of staggers is an undue flow of blood to the brain, 

 which rarely or never occurs in any animals except those in a 

 plethoric (fat) condition. 



"Some writers and practitioners assert that there is a disease 

 known as stomach staggers. I have never seen a case where it 

 was necessary to treat the stomach, but always direct attention to 

 the brain, as being the seat of this disease, which may be properly 

 called head staggers. 



"In case of megrims, or fits, it is merely a lesser attack, or press- 

 ure of the blood-vessels on the brain, and mad staggers is a greater 

 pressure of the same vessels on the same part. The brain is divided 

 into two parts, namely, cerebrum and cerebellum, which occupy a 

 horny box in the head. The blood-vessels passing over the brain 

 and coming in contact with the skull, become distended by an in- 

 creased quantity of blood, and produce the feeling which is thus 

 exhibited. 



" There is but one cure for this disease, and that is, remove the 

 cause. Bleed largely from the neck — ten, twelve, or fourteen 

 quarts, or until the symptoms of fainting. After the horse is con- 

 valescent, a sharp dose of physic should be given to regulate the 

 bowels. I would advise owners of such horses to dispose of them. 

 Once taken with the disease, they are subject to a repetition of the 

 attack when the blood-vessels become tilled again. 



^^ Note. — Small doses of aconite (of the quantity for fever) may 

 be given three or four times a day as a good preventive. Turning 

 horses to pasture that maj' be liable to this disease will prove both 

 injurious and dangerous." 



When driven in the hot sun, the head should be protected with 

 some sort of covering, which is now used very generally in many 

 large cities, or a large sponge, kept wet with water, may be tied 

 on the back of the head. 



Megrims, or Vertigo. 



The form of nervous complication known as megrims is not un- 

 common. Its nature is but imperfectly determined. 



Causes. — It is often connected with worms or other derango- 

 ments of the stomach or bowels, said also to depend on over-accu- 

 mulation of blood in the head. The late Professor John Barlow 

 found tumors in the choroid plexus of the brain. In these cases, 

 it is often connected with over-feeding, and its consequence is de- 

 rangement of the digestive organs. 



It is most commonly seen in harness horses, usually during hot 



