158 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



physic give from ten to fifteen drops of croton oil 

 in a little linseed or castor oil ; this can be repeated 

 in twenty- four hours if needed. Thi£ disease is dis- 

 tinguished from impaction of the stomach by the 

 greater acuteness of the symptoms, the history of 

 the case, and acute fever. 



Megrims. — This may be caused by congestion of 

 the brain or not enough blood to it. The ordinary 

 form of Megrims (blind staggers) is a peculiar de- 

 ranged state of the nerves of the brain or the brain 

 itself, although some cases of staggers are caused 

 by small, ill-fitting collars, which often obstruct 

 the flow of blood in the veins of the neck,thus caus- 

 ing passive congestion of the brain, which is re- 

 lieved by removing the collar. Defective action of 

 the heart will sometimes cause dizziness or stag- 

 gers from want of sufficient blood to the brain. Be- 

 sides these causes there is a disturbance of the 

 brain not well understood which is the most com- 

 mon cause of the Megrims. 



Symptoms: The animal stops, shakes its head, 

 throwing it upward and backward, braces its legs, 

 staggers, and falls. The eyes are staring and the 

 nostrils dilated, and the breathing may be rough; 

 the animal gives a few convulsive struggles, gets 

 on its feet, shakes itself, and goes on as if nothing 

 had happened. I have known horses affected in 

 this way every time they were driven facing the 

 sun. The sunlight, I think, caused irritation in 

 some way affecting the brain. 



Treatment: There is no cure for this disease. If 

 the animal falls, slacken the harness and let the 



