70 



STAGGERS. 



Staggers in horses is caused b}- pressure on the brain arising from 

 disease of some internal organ, and is thus different to megrims, 

 which is caused by direct action on the brain. Staggers is more 

 easily prevented than cured, and, when fully developed, generally 

 proves fatal. Both plethora and anaemia injuriously affect the 

 digestive organs, and tend to derange the nervous system. Indiges- 

 tion may be produced by any food that is imperfectly masticated, 

 and which is incapable of being digested, such as rye-grass hay. 

 Horses taken up from scant}^ pastures and placed upon high feeding 

 are commonly the subjects of the malady, and for this reason it is 

 always necessary to introduce all creatures from one course of feed- 

 ing to another gradually. If it is clear, however, that over disten- 

 sion of the stomach is the cause of the disease, and the brain only 

 acted upon by sympathy, bleeding will avail nothing, and strong 

 local stimulants or stomachics afford the only chance. Staggers is 

 usually ushered in with shivering fits, associated with extreme 

 dulness, standing with the head in a corner, falling asleep in the 

 act of eating, and for this reason called " sleepy staggers ; " the 

 pulse is greatly accelerated, and perspiration escapes from every 

 pore ; the febrile symptoms increase, the animal commences to be 

 restless, to paw the ground, to rear and plunge, and otherwise give 

 evidence of the convulsive stage. For three or four days the sleepy 

 and convulsive stages alternate ; and if recover}^ is likely, the 

 functions of the body are now better performed, assuring us that 

 the secretions are reassuming a healthy state. With this change is 

 associated a subsidency of the symptoms generally, and of the con- 

 vulsive attacks in particular. 



Treatment, of course, must be regulated by the cause— that is, 

 if the disease has arisen from indigestion, then purgatives, such as 

 aloes (5 drachms) must be administered ; and in all cases very little 

 food must be given, and that only of a very digestible nature, such 

 as bran mashes, boiled oats, &c. Sometimes staggers occur as the 

 result of some urinary complaint, when this specific disease must be 

 treated, and upon its cure the indirect attack of staggers will sub- 

 side. Staggers more commonly is produced by violent constipation 

 in association with general functional derangement. In this case, 

 and when the convulsions are very violent, and if the patient be 

 plethoric (full habit of body), blood-letting may be resorted to 

 with great benefit, to be followed by a strong purgative, b}' the 

 application continually of cold water to the head and nape of the 



