THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 405 



<ielirium setsin. He now dashes himself about with fury; his motions 

 are sudden and violent, but without any disposition to mischief, as he is 

 evidently unconscious. He sometimes becomes ferocious, and dangerous 

 to all who may come within reach ; he then bites and strikes at those who 

 €ome near him ; he plunges, rears upon his hind legs, whirls round and 

 round and falls with dreadful force. He will now lie awhile exhausted, 

 and his pulse and breathing are slower. 



At length the mighty anguish returns, and he becomes again a teriify- 

 ing and dangerous animal. The second paroxysm is worse than the first ; 

 he darts furiously at everything within reach ; sometimes bites and tears 

 himself ; and this continues until his former stupor returns, or until he 

 ha'« worn himself out and death puts an end to his sufferings. Each 

 succeeding attack increases in intensity, and brings on increased weakness, 

 «o that his periods of stupor become longer and longer till at last he dies. 



In those cases where at first only the brain is involved the premonitory 

 symptoms may continue a day or two, when the membranous coverings 

 may become suddenly inflamed and delirium speedily set it. Whenever 

 the membranes are attacked the disease reaches its crisis in a few hours -~ 

 there must be speedy relief or death will quickly follow. 



This disease may sometimes be mistaken for colic or for hydrophobia ; 

 but to distinguish from the former, notice that in the colic the horse rises 

 and falls with less violence, and that though he sometimes plunges, he 

 more frequently rolls about. He looks frequently at his flanks with an 

 expression of pain, and he is all the time conscious. To distinguish it 

 from hydrophobia, observe that while there is violence in the latter, and 

 generally an inclination to do mischief, there is always consciousness. 



What to do — If the earlier symptoms — stupidity, sleepiness, awkward, 

 staggery motions — are observed, apply ice cold water to the head, both 

 by pouring and by means of a sponge or rags secured between the ears 

 and along the forehead ; and bleed severely — not enough, however, to 

 render the horse faint. Then give an active purge, as the bowels will 

 almost invariably be found to be torpid and constipated. Use at first ; 



No. 145. ^ 7 Drachms aloes, 



I 4 Drachms castile soap, 



6 Drops oil of caraways. 



Mix with mucilage or s}'Tup to form a ball, and give this quantity f&r 

 one dose. If this is found, after four hours, not to have produced the 

 ■desu'ed effect, give one scruple of croton meal in water, if he will drink 

 it ; if not, he must be drenched. This is a powerful medicine ; but it is 

 of the utmost consequence that his bowels be free, and no effort must be 

 spared to effect that object. If the croton cannot be had, resort to the 

 clyster (of warm soap suds), or to back-raking. 



