THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 121 



When the tumors point outwardly, as soon as the 

 matter is felt to fluctuate freely, but not before, they 

 may be opened with a lancet, which will tend to shorten 

 the complaint. 



Megrims. 



This disease is occasioned by a pressure on the brain, 

 caused by an unusual flow of blood to it ; the flow of 

 blood through the brain is ten times greater in quantity, 

 than through any other portion of the body. To prevent 

 as far as possible any unusual flow of blood to this organ 

 the arteries pursue an extremely winding course, and 

 enter the skull through small holes in the bony process. 

 These holes are so small, that they will admit but of 

 little enlargement of the blood vessels, and thus to a 

 great extent, the process of inflammation is arrested. 



Symptoms. — The megrim is the name of the simplest 

 form of inflammation, arising from the above causes ; 

 this most commonly apx^ears when a horse is over-driven. 

 "When attacked, he will suddenly stop, and shake his 

 head — if allowed to stand for a few minutes this will 

 go off again. Sometimes he will be quietly in a state of 

 complete torpor, at other times he will struggle with 

 great violence, and yet, be unable to rise ; in either of 

 these conditions he will continue from five to ten 

 minutes, when he will gradually resume sensibility, 

 but after these attacks he generally exhibits symptoms 

 of dulness and exhaustion. 



Eemedy. — Immediately after the first attack, take six 

 quarts of blood, a short time after give a dose of physic, 

 in the form of a ball, consisting of the following : — 



Barbadoes Aloes 7 drachms. 



Calomel 2 ,, 



Tartar Emetic 1 ,, 



Ginger 1 



)} 



Bran mashes, and gentle exercise every day. 



