156 DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 



more than 64 lbs. The disorder which appeared at Swansea 

 was generally supposed to be contagious ; and from so many 



the liver were very tender, and easily broken with the finger. Whether this 

 enlargement of the spleen is a singular or peculiar occurrence or not, is at 

 present uncertain ; for it is an organ to which so little importance has been 

 attached in veterinary examinations, that I can easily conceive that a con- 

 siderable enlargement of it may have escaped notice ; or, not being thought 

 worthy of notice or recollection, may have been entirely forgotten. I cannot 

 find a similar disease of the spleen described in any English or Frencli 

 veterinary book. It appears to me that one important use of the spleen is 

 pointed out by these cases, espocinlly when we consider how spongious and 

 dilatable it is, and how little sensibility it possesses. It seems to sierve as a 

 receptacle for superfluous blood, when the sanguiferous system is in a state 

 of repletion, and tiiere happens to be a retrocession of blood from the surface 

 of the body in consequence of the chilling impressions of a cold foggy atmo- 

 sphere ; for I should have observed, that the stomachs of the cattle I ex- 

 amined were loaded with food, and that a river ran through the meadows in 

 which they were kept ; in which situation the night fogs are often very cold, 

 and particularly apt to chill animals when the stomach is loaded with food, 

 and the sanguiferous system with blood. An animal dying in this state, or 

 " in the blood," as it is commonly termed, soon becomes putrid, and may be 

 a source of contagion. 



I am indebted'to the late Mr. Poole, an intelligent farrier, who practised 

 extensively at Pansborough, near Wells, in the Moors or Moor Country, as 

 it is termed, for some valuable information on this subject. He says, "that 

 before the moors in the district where he resided were enclosed and drained, 

 stafgers or lethargy frequently happened, and destroyed more horses than 

 any other disorder; but that since they have been enclosed it scarcely ever 

 happens. The following are the symptoms: — standing in one place three 

 or four hours while otliers were feeding ; gaping several times without inter- 

 mission ; resting the chin on a gate, stile, or numger, or pushing the head 

 against a tree or post ; the urine and dung in small quantity, the latter often 

 with slime or mucus on its surface; at length rambling about, catching liere 

 and there a mouthful of grass, till at last they terminate their life in a ditch, 

 pond, or river." Bleeding in the usual quantity, he says, was sure to prove 

 tiital. The disease was generally considered incurable ; but he cured one 

 horse with beer and ginger, and another with snake-root, mustard, saftron, 

 compound spirit of lavender, and ginger. They attributed the disorder to 

 the animals eating the plant ragwort (Senecio jacoba'a) or staggerwort. In 

 the next parish moor, where this herb abounded, and where many cattle were 

 kept, cows were seized with this disorder, and died in the same manner. He 

 never heard of one being cured. The disease was much slower in its pro- 

 gress than any cases of staggers I have met with. In some instances it con- 

 tinued nearly two months. Mr. Poole did not examine the body of any 

 animal that died of this disorder. 



From the foregoing accounts, it is evident that there are different degrees 

 of stomach staggers, both in horses and cattle, and that all of them are in- 

 curable, unless seasonably attended to. In the first, or acute degree, early 

 and copious bleeding seems to be an essential remedy. Afterwards raking 

 the animal, that is, drawing out the hard dung with tlie hand, and afterwards 

 throwing up a clyster of salt and water every two or three liours ; then giving 

 the following drcnc^h or ball, and afterwards three or four drachms of com- 

 pound spirit of annnonia in a pint of warm water every two hours, and a 

 (juart of warm water every hour, in order to soften the contents of the 

 stomach and bowels. In the second stage, that is, in the cases I have gene- 

 rally met with, copious bleeding is not so essential as in the first stage : still 



