STAGGERS. 425 



breathes in a snoring manner. The pulse is full and slow. This 

 last condition is that which is popularly called " stomach staggers." 



TREATMENT. — Treat as for colic. The horse should be well 

 bedded doAvn, lest rupture of the stomach might take place when 

 rolling, during the paroxysms of pain. We should bleed, if the 

 animal is more or less unconscious, and the pulse full and slow. 



Grass Staggers 



is caused by the eating of oyer-ripe grass, especially rye-grass, a.t 

 a time when a peculiar and poisonous narcotic principle is deyeloped 

 in it, as appears to happen in certain seasons. The disease is liable 

 to affect a large proportion of animals which are under the same 

 grazing conditions. 



The SYMPTOMS, generally, take two or three days to become 

 developed. The animal gradually becomes more or less unconscious 

 and paralysed, and staggers if forced to walk. Although he may 

 have great difficulty in keeping on his legs, he is extremely averse 

 from going down, and leans for support against any convenient 

 object. He breathes in a snoring manner. The mucous membranes 

 are tinged with yellow. Convulsions, or spasms like those of te- 

 tanus, may come on. 



Recovery may be expected in cases which are not marked by 

 extreme symptoms. 



TREATMENT. — Give a subcutaneous injection (p. 633) of eserine 

 (p. 609) or a full dose of aloes (p. 599), combined with a drachm of 

 calomel. Bleeding (p. 638) may be tried. Back rake and ad- 

 minister a couple of enemas (p. 632) of warm water, 



Superpurgation 



is the term applied to excessive diarrhoea brought on by the action 

 of purgative medicine. 



CAUSES. — Giving too strong a dose of aloes ; giving a second 

 dose before the first one has commenced to act ; exercisincr the 

 horse before or soon after the physic has " set " (physic is said to 

 " set " when the purging ceases and the dung begins to assume its 

 normal appearance) ; administering aloes without preparing the 

 animal for it; allowing him to drink a large quantity of cold 

 water shortly after giving aloes ; giving aloes on an empty 

 stomaoh and then keeping the horse without food, etc, 



