1 1 2 Veterinary Medicine. 



narrowness of the cranium and space between the ears and 

 with a retreating of the head from the orbits to the poll. Other 

 horses suffer but the majority are of this conformation, and thus 

 the disease acquires a hereditary basis. 



The expression of the face is characteristic. The eye is dull, 

 often sunken, lacking in vivacity and life, the eyelids are 

 semi-closed, the ears do not prick up to sounds, the ^muscles of' 

 the face are relaxed, so that the lips hang flaccid, and the nostrils 

 fail to dilate freely and rhythmically. The animal is apparently 

 unconscious of all that goes on around him, and is not aroused 

 by the entry or exit of men or horses, by voice or slap, by 

 food or water. His head is probably dropped and resting in 

 the manger, and he raises it sluggishly when compelled ; when 

 moved from side to side of the stall his legs may retain a 

 position turned outward or crossed one over the other ; if ener- 

 getically roused he wakefs up slowly, and almost immediately 

 relapses into his former lethargy, without accomplishing what 

 was called for. When left with legs crossed he often remains so 

 until wearied by the constrained position, or in danger of falling' 

 from loss of balance. Not only the legs but the head will re- 

 tain for a time an abnormal position given to it, — bent, dropped, 

 turned to one side or the other. 



This same lethargy extends even to mastication, which is usu- 

 ally performed slowly and indifferently, and is often interrupted 

 in the middle of the trituration of a morsel which remains in the 

 cheek, on the tongue, or between the teeth, and perhaps hanging 

 out of the mouth. Hence the horseman's expression, he smokes 

 his pipe. 



His mode of drinking is no less singular. Usually the lower 

 part of the face is dropped deeply into the water, and he will only 

 withdraw it when it becomes necessary to breathe. He may con- 

 tinue to masticate while drinking. 



When walked or trotted he may move a short distance all right ; 

 he may even hasten his progress for a short distance without 

 refusing meanwhile to respond to the rein, then he may stop 

 and for a short time longer resist all efforts with voice, whip, or 

 spur to start him anew. In other cases he will turn to one side, 

 getting into ditches or fences by an apparently involuntary action, 

 and in defiance of whip or reins. 



