522 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



always direct attention to the brain, as being the seat of the disease, which may be 

 properly called Mad staggers. 



In case of megrims, or fits, it is merely a lesser attack, or pressure of the blood- 

 vessels on the brain, and mad staggers is a greater pressure of the same vessels on 

 the same part. The brain is divided into two parts, namely, cerebrum and cere- 

 bellum, which occupy a horny box in the head. The blood-vessels passing over the 

 brain and coming in contact with the skull, become distended by an -increased quan- 

 tity of blood, and produce the feeling which is thus exhibited. 



There is but one cure for this disease, and that is, remove the cause. Bleed 

 largely from the neck — ten, twelve, or fourteen quarts, or until the symptoms of. 

 fainting. After the horse is convalescent, a sharp dose of physic should be given to 

 regulate the bowels. I would advise owners of such horses to dispose of them. Once 

 taken with the disease, they are subject to a repetition of the attack when the blood- 

 vessels become filled again. 



Note. — Small doses of aconite (of the quantity for fever) may be given three or 

 four times a day as a gpod preventive. Turning to pasture horses that may be li- 

 able to this disease will prove both injurious and dangerous. 



When driven in the hot sun, the head should be protected with 

 some sort of covering, which is now used very generally in many 

 large cities, or a large sponge, kept wet with water, may be tied on 

 the back of the head. 



Megrims, or Vertigo. 



The form of nervous complication known as megrims is not 

 uncommon. Its nature is but imperfectly determined. 



Causes. — It is often connected with worms or other derange- 

 ments of the stomach or bowels, said also to depend on over-accu- 

 mulation of blood in the head. The late Professor John Barlow 

 found tumors in the choroid plexus of the brain. In these cases, it 

 is often connected with over-feeding, and its consequence is derange- 

 ment of the digestive organs. 



It is most commonly seen in harness horses, usually during hot 

 weather, occurs generally on a heavy pull going up hill, probably 

 from pressure of the collar interrupting the return of blood from the 

 head ; or " the long^continued constraint the bearing-reins put the 

 head to," may prove the exciting causes in animals predisposed to it. 



Symptoms. — All at once, when going along the road, he is ob- 

 served to jerk up his head in a convulsive manner ; he seems giddy, 

 reels, staggers, may fall down and lie for a few moments insensible ; 

 he gets up, looks stupidly about, shakes himself, and proceeds as if 

 nothing had happened. 



At other times he merely stops, experiences a few convulsive 

 movements of the head, with slight giddiness, which by letting him 

 stand for a few minutes soon passes off. He is ever after subject 

 to these fits, especially during the hot summer months. 



