INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 521 



the second stage, when the pulse becomes quick, general excitement 

 takes the place of lethargic stupor; the countenance is wild and ex- 

 ci.ted looking ; the eyes are blood-shot and staring ; delirium sets in ; 

 he dashes himself furiously about, reels apd staggers, often throws 

 himself violently down ; lies trembling, blowing, and convulsed ; his 

 bloodrshot eyes like to start out of their sockets ; he will soon get 

 up, rear and plunge forward, breaking everything around him, 

 evidently unconscious of the injuries he is sustaining ; and, what is 

 characteristic of the complaint, his destruction is carried on evidently 

 without ^purpose, as is evinced in rabies, or madness. The convul- 

 sions become more frequent and continuous, and death ends his 

 misery in from twenty to twenty-four hours. 



, Treatment, ^Copious blood-letting must be at once resorted to ; 

 no time should be lost in giving a strong dose of purgative medicine- 

 One or both jugulars may be opened, or where, from the restlessness 

 of the patient or danger in working about him, this is impracticable, 

 the lancet should be plunged into the temporal' artery, which will be 

 found about three inches below the ear, between it and the nostril. 

 The following drench should be given : — 



Barbadoes aloes 6 dr. 



Carbonate of soda. . . ., , ' : .J oz. 



Croton beans, powdered , .-. ..... .... 15 



Three drachms of aloes may be givert every three hours, with 

 copious injections every hour, till the bowels are freely opened. Sed- 

 atives should also be used, such as extract of hyoscyamus and cal- 

 omel, a drachm of each shaken up in a little thin gruel, given every 

 two hours. Seldom is repetition of blood-letting advisable ; cold 

 water should be constantly applied to the head ; a small hose made 

 to play upon it in a constant stream, where it is convenient, will be 

 found very useful. , 



The favorite prescription of a very successful practitioner is : 

 " Give on the tongue every six hours about one drachm of the extract 

 of conium." He gave this after the horse had fallen. 



Dr. Summeryille's explanation, and treatment of this difficulty 

 are so plain and good, that I include them : — 



Is first noticeable by dullness or sleepiness of the eyes, an unwillingness to move, 

 general heaviness of the system. This disease is frequently called megrim*, flti, and 

 mad staggers ; but in part only one disease, according to the extent of such disease as 

 the animal may be affected with. 



The cause of staggers is an undue flow of blood to the brain, which rarely or 

 never occurs in any animals except those in a plethoric (fat) condition. 



Some writers and practitioners assert, that there is a disease known as stomach 

 staggers. I have never seen a case where it was necessary to treat the stomach, but 



