MODERN FARRIER. 101 



and the head fixed and immoveable, and somewhat 

 elevated, with the ears and tail erect and motionless ; 

 the muscles about the mouth are contracted, the 

 eyes express great animation and anxiety, and the 

 haw is drawn partly over the eye-ball ; the nostrils 

 are distended, the breathing difficult, the jaws fixed, 

 and the legs nearly incapable of motion. 



Mr. Gibson has described this dreadful disease 

 very accurately, though his expressions are uncouth. 

 He says, ' As soon as a horse is seized in this man- 

 ner, his head is raised with his nose towards the 

 rack, his ears pricked up, and his tail cocked, looking 

 with an eagerness, as an hungry horse when hay is 

 put down to him, or like an high-spirited one when 

 upon his mettle: in so much that those who are 

 strangers to such things, when they see a horse 

 stand in this manner, will scarce believe any thing 

 of consequence ails him ; and I have seen such per- 

 iSons greatly sui'prised when they have been told of 

 I the danger. But they are soon convinced when 

 ! they see other symptoms come on apace; that his 

 neck grows stiff, cramped, and almost immoveable ; 

 and if a horse in this condition lives a few days, se- 

 veral knots and ganglions will rise on the tendinous 

 parts thereof; and all the muscles, both before and 

 behind, will be so pulled and crampled and stretched, 

 that he looks as if lie was nailed to +he pavement, 

 with his legs stiff, wide, and straddling ; his skin so 

 tight on all parts of his body, that it is almost im- 

 I possible to move it ; and if trial be made to make 

 him walk, he is rea'dy to fall at every step, unless he 

 be carefully supported ; his eyes are so fixed with 

 the inaction of the muscles, as gives him a deadness 

 in his looks. He snorts and sneezes often, pants 

 continually with shortness of breath: and this 

 symptom increases till he drops down dead, which 

 generally happens in a few days, unless som.e very- 

 sudden and effectual turn can be given to the dis- 

 temper.' 



