STOMACn STAGGEES. 155 



In one case that occurred near Exeter, I had an opportunity of 

 weighing the stomach with its contents, and it amounted to rather 



the common way; that is, about two or three quarts were taken off: whereas, 

 hy profuse bleeding, I should suppose two gallons at least. I have known 

 more than four gallons of blood taken from a horse in about an houi', with 

 success. Mr. Rogers, of Exeter, informed me that he took five gallons from 

 a horse in brain staggers or phrenzy in the course of two or three hours, and 

 the horse recovered. Mr. Coleman states, in his Lectures, that 44 lbs. have 

 been taken at one time. It appears to me that the Swansea distemper 

 depended upon repletion of the blood-vessels, as well as of the stomach and 

 bowels, an(l should have been treated with copious bleeding, stimulating 

 clysters of salt and water, and stimulating purgative drenches. A disorder 

 very similar to the Swansea distemper has occurred among cattle at times in 

 some rich meadow farms in Somersetshire ; about which 1 have been con- 

 sulted. The proprietors have the same opinion with regard to its origin and 

 nature as the Swansea people have ; that is, they think it contagious, 

 and imagine it originates in some poisonous herbs growing in the pastures, 

 which flourish at some seasons and in some situations in a greater degree 

 than at others. 



The first occurrence of this disorder, or more probably tlie first time it 

 attracted notice, was in the remarkably hot and dry summer of 1819, in the 

 beginning of which a cow died on one of the farms, and was thrown into an 

 adjoining river. The animal was washed a little way down the stream, and 

 was left on the opposite siile, which belonged to another farm. Here it be- 

 came putrid and very offensive ; and from this pei-iod the distemper began, 

 and has been occurring at different periods ever since. The occupier of the 

 farm where the putrid carcass was washed lost a considerable number of 

 cattle ; and, considering the putrid carcass as the cause, brought an action 

 against the farmer who threw the dead cow into the river. A verdict, how- 

 ever, was found for the defendant ; some eminent physicians and surgeons 

 who were subpoenaed on the occasion, as well as Mr. Barrett, veterinary sur- 

 geon, and myself, being of opinion that the loss did not originate from the 

 putrid carcass. At present, however, I have some doubt upon this point ; and 

 at all events would advise every one to bury animals immediately, skin and 

 all, when they die of highly inflammatory disorders, as these certainly were, 

 especially in summer. Only one of the animals attacked with this distemper 

 recovered, and he was bled profusely, that is, to faintness. It is worthy of 

 remark, that in every animal that has died of this disorder (for sheep, and 

 pigs, and one horse, have died of it, besides a great number of cattle), and 

 they appear to have examined a great number, if not all, that have died, the 

 spleen or milt has been found greatly enlarged and distended, or even burst- 

 ing with dark fluid blood. According to the account of those people, this 

 was the only morbid appearance. This, however, I have reason to believe is 

 an error, owing to their incompetency to examine or judge of the state of the 

 internal parts ; for since that time, I have been sent for to examine three 

 cows that lay dead of the disorder. In all of them I found the spleen as they 

 described ; that is, enlarged to about four times its natural size, and nearly 

 bursting with dark-coloured fluid blood : a great deal appeared to have oozed 

 through its investing membrane into the abdomen, and to have tinged and 

 even penetrated into the texture of some of the neighbouring parts. But 

 this was not the only morbid appearance ; there was a considerable accumu- 

 lation of blood in the brain, especially in two of them, and some of the small 

 vessels had burst. One of them, being rather fat, was stuck a short time 

 before the fatal symptoms came on, and in this the spleen and the brain were 

 the organs chiefly affected ; but in the others the heart and lungs were much 

 afiijcted, or rather distended with blood ; and in one of these the heart and 



