THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 403 



most merciful thing to do is to shoot at once. When there are strong 

 symptoms of madness, but still some doubt, put him by himself in a sta- 

 ble, bare of everything destructible except food and water, which must 

 be placed where he can get it, and barricade the door. Leave a window 

 open for observation, and keep him here until the symptoms disappear 

 or hydrophobia is unmistakable — then act accordingly. 



II. Mad Staggers. 



Causes. — This disease is sometimes known by the more learned term of 

 phrenitis (the delirium of fever ; frenzy, raving) ; but it will be by prac- 

 tical men most readily recognized when treated of under its old and fa- 

 miliar name. 



It is an inflamed condition of the brain and its covering, with effusion 

 of the small cavities and the spaces between the membrane and the brain 

 itself. Sometimes both the brain and its membranous covering are in- 

 volved in this inflammation, sometimes but one, and that most frequently 

 the membrane. 



It may be caused by concussion of the brain by reason of blows upon 

 the head. The brutality of a driver, which finds its gratification in using 

 the butt of his whip upon the head of the horse, may result in a frac- 

 tured skull, to be followed by slight pressure upon the brain, a speedy 

 fever and the consequent determination of too much blood to the head, 

 which, combined with the burning inflammation, brings on this madness, 

 perhaps death. 



Among the causes other than violence we may name the following : 

 The sluffsino: of the vessels of the brain with clots formed elsewhere in 

 the system by some abnormal action ; the growth of tumors upon the 

 brain or upon its covering, from some remote and probably hidden cause ; 

 sudden and great changes of temperature in the body brought about by 

 instantaneous exposure to extreme heat or cold ; over-exertion in pletho- 

 ric or full-blooded animals, especially in hot weather ; congestion from 

 close collar, short-drawn check, or tight throat-latch ; congestion from 

 internal compression, as by over-loading stomach and bowels ; feeding on 

 parasitic grasses or smut, of which rye grass may be noted as the most 

 hurtful ; infection of the blood by poisonous animal matter or fluids ; 

 imprudent over-feeding and insufficient exercise. 



How to know it. — The symptoms often differ but little from apoplexy, 

 comparing the^rs^ stage of each, but they may generally be distinguished 

 by this : that in mad staggers the horse is not so comatose, or sleepy an<l 

 insensible, as in apoplexy. Light affects his eye a little, and he is sen!>i- 

 tive to the whip, whereas the horse laboring under a genuine attack of 

 26 



