188 MAD STAGGERS. 



distending the stomach, and which may not be well chewed 

 when swallowed by a ravenous feeder, may produce the 

 characteristic symptoms of stomach- staggers. 



Symptoms. In order to diagnose these cases satisfactorily, 

 their history must be ascertained, and this is not a matter of 

 doubt when many animals are simultaneously affected, and 

 all are under the same system of management. It is difficult 

 to estimate the severity of the case, however, when we have 

 no means of judging the amount and kind of food which the 

 animal has partaken of. There are three distinct forms of 

 the disease, occasionally intermixed or complicated by typical 

 instances of either form, often to be seen. I should name 

 the three forms as, 1st, the delirious; 2ndly, the comatose; 

 and, Srdly, the paralytic. The second is probably the most 

 dangerous, and however marked the madness or paralysis in 

 the other two forms, they are often as rapidly cured as they 

 are produced. 



The general symptoms in all forms are constipation, often 

 colicky pains, no discharge of urine, full bounding pulse, 

 tremors, partial sweats bedewing the body, in some instances 

 eructation, in all a very anxious expression of countenance, 

 drooping lids, hanging lip, and often total blindness. The 

 severity of these general symptoms may vary to a very great 

 extent in different cases. 



The special symptoms may be described separately, and 

 we shall here notice the means of distinguishing each from 

 other disorders with which they may be confounded. 



Firstly. Impaction of the Stomach associated with Deli- 

 rium, usually called Mad-Staggers. When the stable is 

 entered in which a horse with this affection is enclosed, he 

 is found in a violent shivering fit, and appears excited as if 

 some injury had befallen him. Comparative calm is restored, 

 especially if the place is darkened, but at intervals the animal 



