18 PHRENITIS. 
toward itself, and would look for relief when the portfire descended 
upon the touch-hole. Every movement seems designed to end its own 
existence; but the furor has no malice in it. The creature strives only 
to injure himself. It may in its efforts shatter and demolish the struc- 
tures which surround it; but it does so without intention. That is 
merely the result of its being carried away beyond the things of this 
world by a mighty anguish. It desires harm to no one; but it cannot 
remain quiescent, and endure the torment which rages within its skull. 
When this stage of the malady appears, the best thing is to antici- 
pate the evident wish of the animal. The teaching of schools, which 
instructs young men to meddle with the strength of an infuriated horse, 
is mere prattle. However, if the disease, as it seldom happens, is per- 
ceived approaching, something may be attempted. Before the violence 
commences, the horse is generally dull. It does not obey the rein or 
answer to the lash. It is heavy beyond man’s control. It snores as it 
breathes. The lids drop; the head sinks; the body is cold; the mem- 
brane of the nose is leaden in color; and, from being the obedient, 
watchful, and willing slave, its entire nature appears to have changed. 
It does not attend to the goad, and the voice of the driver may baw] in 
the harshest key, but the sound which used to excite seems unheard and 
is unheeded. 
The remedy for the earlier stage is copious blood-letting: Open 
both jugulars and allow the current to flow till the countenance bright- 
ens or the animal sinks. Bleed again and again, if necessary. Give 
purgatives of double strength, and repeat them every three hours, till 
the bowels are copiously relieved or the pulse changes, or the general 
appearance indicates improvement. Afterward, administer sedatives, 
always as infusions. A scruple of tobacco, half a drachm of aconite 
root, or a drachm of digitalis should have a pint of hot water poured 
upon it. When the liquid is nearly cold, it should be strained, and the 
dose may be repeated every half hour, until its operation is witnessed 
in the more quiet behavior of the animal. 
In the generality of cases, however, no opportunity for such treat- 
ment is presented. The disease is most common in the agricultural dis- 
tricts, and is usually seen where carters indulge their passion in the 
butt-end of the whip employed upon the horse’s head. The cause is, 
however, carefully concealed, and, after the violent stage has set in, the 
original wound is generally mistaken for some self-inflicted injury. 
Thus, the horse, even in the most horrid of deaths, with a generosity 
characteristic of its nature, contrives to shield the being whom it served 
and loved, from the consequences of his inhumanity. 
Should the animal, by such means, recover, treat it gently; do not 
