202 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



and terminate sooner tnan in man. The usual ter- 

 mination of inflammatory affections in the horse, are 

 by resolution, effusion, suppuration, and gangrene. 

 Scirrhus is not at all a common termination of inflam- 

 mation in the horse. 



8. Inflammation of the brain, (phrentis) brain fever, pkrensy 

 fever, staggers, mad and sleepy. There are few diseases more 

 likely to be mistaken by inexperienced farriers than this ; it is not 

 to be wondered at, therefore, if indifferent persons should be led into 

 error by it. It appears in two forms, a violent frantic one, and a 

 sleepy lethargic one ; and the latter appearance is also common to a 

 disease, not dependent as this is, on idiopathic inflammation of the 

 brain ; but on a paralytic affection of the stomach, and thence it is 

 called stomach staggers. This latter affection, however, may be 

 distinguished from the former by attending to the colour of the eye- 

 lids, nose linings, mouth, &.c. which in stomach staggers are usually 

 more yellow than red ; whereas in sleepy staggers, they are more 

 red than yellow. Inflammation of the brain shews itself in general 

 cases by disinclination to food and motion, drowsiness, accompanied 

 by a heaviness and closing of the eyelids, with moisture and red- 

 ness of them ; and also of the linings of the mouth and nose. 

 Sometimes these symptoms increase, until the horse becomes 

 comatose, and after a few frightful struggles, sinks to rise no more. 

 la these cases the pulse is apt to be oppressed instead of in- 

 creased. But most frequently after the first stages he becomes 

 furious, plunges about, and is vicious to himself and others, ap- 

 proaching to a state of madness, in which state he continues till 

 he sinks from his own exertions, when he rises again to renew his 

 violence. 



9. The cause of staggers may be various: the immediate are 

 either an original accumulation of blood within the brain, or the 

 translation of the inflammation of some organ to the brain : as a 

 remote cause is often brought on by too full feeding, without suf- 

 ficient exercise, and particularly in horses at one time working 

 very hard, and at another suflfered to remain inactive; but which 

 horses, whether used or not, are equally fed. Sudden cold, vio- 

 lence, &c. may bring it on. 



10 The treatment of staggers should be begun by abstracting 

 a \Qrj large quantity of blood promptly, by opening both jugulars, 



