406 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



indicated by totally different symptoms. When inflammation affects the 

 intimate structure of the brain the prominent signs are loss of sensibility 

 and consciousness more or less complete, and various degrees of paralysis. 

 None of these symptoms are present in inflammation of the meninges, 

 of which violent excitement, pain, tenderness, delirium, and convulsions 

 are the chief manifestations. In the case of disease being confined to the 

 brain there is seldom any marked disturbance in the circulatory system, 

 but in meningitis both the pulse and respiration are excited in a high 

 degree. To put the differences concisely, it may be said that in disease of 



Fig. 177. Sleepy Staggers 



the brain substance, diminished sensibility, loss of power of motion, and 

 deranged volition are the characteristic features, while inflammation of the 

 investing membranes of the organ is indicated by spasms, convulsions, 

 violent pain, delirium, and frenzy. Impaired consciousness may arise 

 from disease of the stomach. The affection which is described as " stomach 

 staggers " might probably be, in popular phrase, referred to as a sick head- 

 ache due to an attack of indigestion, the brain being sympathetically 

 affected. The symptoms of the disorder are generally observed after a full 

 meal, which the horse probably swallows rapidly owing to a previous long 

 fast. The first indication is a slight dulness, the eyelids being drooped, and 

 the nose rested against the manger. If compelled to move, the animal 

 staggers; hence the name given to the disease. 



In very pronounced cases the drowsiness may be followed by delirium, 

 or sometimes severe convulsive twitchings of the muscles. Now and then 

 a violent excitement supervenes, and the animal throws himself about 



