412 ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



When in this condition it is dangerous to be near him, or to attempt to 

 move him. When arouSed from this apparent sleep he looks vacantly 

 around, glares unmeaningly, and sometimes the eyes will not close when 

 an object is moved before them — and the indications are that he neither 

 sees nor hears. If food is within reach he will sometimes take a mouth- 

 ful, but lose consciousness while it is yet but half chewed ; and if ho 

 attempts to drink, the power of swallowing seems to be partially lost, 

 and the water will return through his nostrils. As he grows worse he will 

 twist his legs over each other when trying to go straight forward. In the 

 last stage he begins to foam at the mouth ; his breathing becomes loud and 

 laborious ; the pulse is depressed ; the jugular veins are distended almost 

 to bursting : the muzzle is cold, and sometimes he discharges faeces almost 

 involuntarily; he grinds his teeth; twitchings steal over his face and 

 limbs ; and at last he falls into convulsions and beats himself about in a 

 terrible manner. There is no disposition to do mischief — he is evidently 

 well nigh unconscious. All the powers of life are wrought upon, and 

 death speedily results unless some powerful means can be brought to 

 bear to bring instant partial relief. 



It is well to caution the reader against mistaking for an apoplectic sign 

 a certain sleepy, listless, stupid expression of countenance that is brought 

 on by repeated attacks of megrims. A little examination will generally 

 disclose that all the other symptoms of apoplexy are wanting. 



What to do. — That treatment which will most speedily relieve the 

 overloaded vessels of the brain is clearly best. If anything is done 

 before the violent stage of the disease comes on, bleed freely from the 

 neck vein — so freely, indeed, that the horse falters or begins to blow. 

 If the case has been neglected until the violent stage is upon him, bleed, 

 if possible, until he falls. It may sometimes happen that a lull in the 

 paroxysms ensues, and even at this late hour it is well to make the 

 attempt to save by drawing blood. 



Next, determine, if possible, whether the cause is a present-existing 

 gorged stomach, and constipated, torpid bowels. If so, use the stomach 

 pump promptly. Force warm water into his stomach till the food is so 

 thinned that it may escape by the pylorus and by the mouth and nostrils. 

 When this extreme fullness of the stomach is overcome, give a purgative 

 bolus as follows ; 



No. 148. 7 Drachms aloes, 



4 Drachms castile soap, 

 6 Drops oil ol caraway. 



Mix with mucilage or syrup to form a ball, which give as a dose. 



If the constipation is obstinate, and does not yield to this purgative, 



