APPENDIX. — STOMACH STAGGERS. 363 



it often attacks more than one horse when 

 several are kept in the same stable, not at 

 the same time, but in succession; many 

 farmers havino: lost several horses in a short 

 time from this disease. I am satisfied how- 

 ever that it is not infectious ; and wlien a farm- 

 er happens to have several horses attacked 

 with staggers, either at the same time or in 

 succession, it can only be attributed to his 

 negligence or hard treatment of the animal : 

 considerable experience and careful investi- 

 gation have convinced me of the truth of this 

 remark. The only method of removing this 

 disease is to exhibit strong purgatives, joined 

 with aromatics and other stimulants, at an 

 early period ; for if the stomach be distended 

 to a certain degree, no medicine can restore 

 it*. 



* When the stomach has its vital power co«?iderab!y diini- 

 ftlshed, its contents become subject in some degree to chemical 

 laws, by v^hich all dead matter is governed, or in otlicr word* 

 ^'er»«e«tafio;i will talic place, and a quantify of air be extricated in , 

 consequence so as to increase the distension. Thii oiten occurs 

 to horned cattle when brought suddenly into a luxuriant pasture, 

 paiticularly clover. 1 once met with a case where a horse, get- 

 ting loose durmg the night, found the corn -chest open; n'^Jit 

 morning he was lying dead in the stable ; and on opening- tb.' 

 body, a large quantity of oats was found in the stoaaacii. It one 



R2 



