HORSES. 145 



RABIES, OR MADN1S&. 



This dreadful disease is produced by the tite of a mafi 

 aog, or by such dog licking the muzzle of a horse whose 

 lips are galled by the bit. 



Symptoms. The horse stops, looks round, staggers 

 and falls. He will soon rise, proceed again, and again 

 stagger and fall. After a while, he becomes violent and 

 furious ; stamping, biting, tearing, and endeavoring to 

 demolish everything around him ; acting with apparent 

 consciousness and intent on mischief. 



Unlike other domestic animals, even the dosr, in whicfc 

 this disease originates, the horse, like the human being, 

 generally has a dread of water, or hydrophobia ; as the • 

 head is suddenly snatched from a pail of water, amidst 

 drinking, and he trembles and sometimes falls to the 

 ground, convulsed, at the sound of falling water. 



There is no cure, but it may be prevented by cutting 

 out the wound immediately after the bite, before the 

 poison has entered the circulation, or by the applicatior 

 of lunar caustic, so as to destroy every part that is in 

 jured. It must reach to the very bottom of the wound' 

 It is dangerous to do anything with a horse when this 

 malady controls him. [See page 277.] 



THE HORSE DISEASE. 



This term was given to an unusual and very fatal 

 malady that prevailed among horses around the city of 

 New York, particularly on Long Island, in the summer 

 and early fall of 1846. It mostly affected those tha 

 were pastured. It seemed to be a congestive fever on 

 the brain. The internal organs were free from inflam- 

 mation. 



Cause. It was supposed to be caused by miasma in 

 the air, arising from the decomposition of vegetable and 

 animal matter, which, taken intc the lungs, vitiated the 

 blood, or prevented the usual purifying effects of vita, 

 air. 



Symptoms. These varied. In some cases, it com.. 

 13 



