Si 



It is not a rare occurrence that horses lose the feeling in their mouths 

 in consequence of a strong,incessant pressure upon the jaw and tongue. 



This has its caus° in the suppressed circulation of the lymph and 

 its reflex action upon the afferent nerves. 



Such horses, before entering 1 into this condition have suffered great 

 pain by which they become benumbed, a state, which is augmented 

 considerably by the rush of blood to, or the congestion of the brain. 



Horses so affected are seen to run away tmconsciously with their 

 mouths wide open, their tongues blue-black, with eyes fixed and boring 

 on the reins, in a walk, trot, gallop, or other gaits. 



They stumble over whatever lies in their way, bang against the 

 sides of the ring and run their heads against the wall. 



I will here recall an incident which happened under my eyes in 

 Brooklyn : A horse, untrained , but equipped with saddle and full bridle 

 was brought to a riding academy for trial and with a view of being 

 eventually handled for saddle use. After a few minutes the animal sud. 

 denly threw its nose away up in the air and reversing the neck trotted 

 rigidly toward the "wall entirely beyond the control of the rider. 



Its head was so high that when he struck the wall his lower jaw 

 and windpipe were pressed against the side of the ring and for a few 

 moments he remained suspended between his hind legs and mouth, the 

 front legs not touching the ground. 



I supposed the horse to be seriously injured as neither strength nor 

 any impressions of the reins could stir him out of his uncomfortable posi- 

 tion ; but after a little while he became relaxed and then went along 

 when guided entirely by the snafflle. 



A very similar appearance is offered by horses which run away, 

 because of pain. 



Through excessive flexions and extensions great pain may be caused 

 in the muscles of the poll, jaws, neck or back by the misuse of certain 

 kinds of reins similar to the martingal which force the horse to assume 

 positions of head and neck, to which the natural conformation of the 

 animal is sometimes directly opposed, and which may eventually be 

 obtained by patient and gradual suppling of the parts involved. 



These horses, too , become stupefied and rush away in the most ex- 

 treme attitudes of head and neck, the latter making often all impress- 

 ions with the bits a practical impossibility and the horse is running 

 away in a -walk, trot, or unbalanced galop; less frequently in a decided 

 run. 



With such horses we shall have to see, that -while in this irrespon. 

 sible condition they do not endanger themselves or the rider. 



By releasing the reins and discontinuing the flexions, the cause will 

 be removed. 



When the pain has ceased, the circulation is re-established and con. 

 sciousness has returned, the horse will again become willing and man- 

 ageable 



Horses which are suffering from disease of the brain, particularly 



