6 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



and thus to a great extent the progress of inflamma- 

 tion is prevented. Yet, notwithstanding this beauti- 

 ful provision in nature, the horse is liable to be afflicted . 

 with diseases in the brain, from violent and injudicious 

 exercise, and hard driving or riding in warm weather, 

 which forces the blood to the head, and distends the 

 arteries of the brain more than the veins ; and the 

 consequence is, the small vessels which ramify in the 

 substance of the brain get gorged with blood, and 

 then its bulk is increased to such an extent that it 

 will produce undue pressure upon the origin of the 

 nerves, which is followed by loss of power and even 

 consciousness, and consequences of a very serious 

 nature frequently follow. 



Symptoms. — These most commonly appear when 

 a horse is over-driven. When attacked he will 

 suddenly stop and shake his head, having been 

 seized with giddiness and a slight degree of uncon- 

 sciousness. If allowed to stand for a few minutes, 

 this will go off, and he v/ill be enabled to proceed on 

 his journey. But it not unfrequently happens that 

 the attack is of a more severe kind ; and under such 

 circumstances the horse will fall suddenly, or in other 

 cases will run round several times and then fall. 

 Sometimes he will lie quietly in a state of complete 

 torpor ; at other times he will struggle with great 

 violence, and for a time be unable to rise. In either 

 of these conditions he will continue for from, five to 

 ten minutes, when he will gradually resume sensibility, 

 and then will be able to get on his feet, and may 

 then proceed on the journey. But after these attacks 

 he generally exhibits symptoms of dullness and ex- 

 haustion. 



Remedy. — Immediately after the first attack of 

 this disease, if the animal is strong and robust, re- 



