1900 
suddenly, and moves the head from side to side, or upand down. Sometimes 
the horse turns its head to one side. The vessels of the face and throat are 
engorged, the eyes stare, the nostrils are widely opened, and the breathing is 
rapid. The skin may be bedewed with perspiration, and the muscles of the 
face twitch convulsively. If the collar causing the obstruction be removed, 
the symptoms abate, and the animal soon recovers. When the symptoms 
are very severe, there is great excitement, the convulsions become still more 
marked, and the animal falls prostrate to the ground. 
It is necessary first to remove the collar, to permit of the return of the 
blood to the heart, and then to apply cold water to the head. When we 
have reason to suspect that the affection depends upon indigestion, this must 
be treated as we have already directed. When the neck is peculiarly shaped, 
it may be necessary to use a breast strap, instead of a collar. Mad staggers. 
is nearly always due to inflammation of the brain, though frenzy or 
uncontrollable fury may be one of the symptoms of rabies, and sometimes. 
has been thought to come on as a result of acute indigestion. , 
MAD STAGGERS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN, 
OR ENCEPHALITIS, OR PHRENITIS. 
INFLAMMATION of the brain is a rare disease in the horse, and is usually 
due to direct injury, such as a blow on the head, but may also be caused by 
great exhaustion or exposure to the rays of the sun. Sometimes the symptoms 
are very sudden, consisting in great excitement with convulsions, followed: 
by a stage of depression. At other times, the stage of excitement is absent. 
In these cases, the animal is very intolerant of its head being handled, or 
pressed upon, and the skin and mouth are hotter than natural. The eyes 
are staring, and the pupils contracted, though in the later stages of the 
disease they become widely dilated. The pulse is quickened, and the horse 
moves to and fro sullenly, and his body is sometimes bedewed with 
perspiration. Occasionally muscular twitchings and general or local 
insensibility are manifested. 
The stage of excitement is of variable duration, and the symptoms 
manifested in it differ widely in intensity. It is followed by the stage of 
depression. Cases of inflammation of the brain call for all the care of the 
scientific veterinarian, and it is therefore impossible for the amateur to take 
such cases in hand. Bleeding is indicated when the fever is high, and the 
excitement very great. Generally from two to three quarts of blood may be 
removed. A full dose of aloes should be given in the first instance—say five 
to seven drachms, according to the size of the animal. Locally, ice or cloths 
steeped in cold water or some evaporating lotion (alcohol one part, solution of 
subacetate of lead one part, water eight parts), should be applied to the head 
during the stage of excitement. The animal should be removed from alk 
noises, and kept as strictly quiet as possible. The diet should be light and 
nutritious: If the animal continues to drink, two drachms of bromide of . 
