THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
411 
blood in the extremities, and thus divert it from the head. The 
symptoms are so striking that few can mistake it. The animal 
appears sleepy, hangs his head without the power of keeping his 
eyes open, is perfectly indifferent to every object about him, and 
frequently falls to the ground apparently insensible. 
Mad Staggers, or Inflammation of the Brain. 
The mad staggers, of which I have seen two instances in this 
country, is, I think, similar to phrenitis, or inflammation of 
the brain in the human subject, and is relieved by a similar treat- 
ment. 
It is generally produced by spasms, or gripes in the intestines. 
Foul feeding causes an accumulation of faeces, which obstructs the 
bowels, and obstruction in the bowels, by pressing on the v^ins, 
impedes the return of blood from the brain. If the habit is 
irritable, inflammation will ensue. The two cases I have wit- 
nessed in camp* were evidently caused by gripes, which, not being 
timely relieved, produced the mad staggers, which is known by 
the animal’s being very restless, and in continual motion. If at 
his picket, he is always moving his legs and his head, expressing 
more uneasiness than direct pain. If he is taken from his 
picket he runs round, nor ever stops until he falls. 
The mode of cure in this disease is very similar to the former, 
only being more particular as to procuring a discharge by the 
bowels. At the commencement five or six quarts of blood may 
be taken from a large orifice ; at the same time a very powerful 
purgative should be administered, composed of oneounce and a half 
of aloes, and two or three drachms of calomel, which may be re- 
peated in twelve or fourteen hours if it does not operate. In order 
to accelerate the operation of the physic, strong clysters should be 
employed every five or six hours, each clyster containing two 
ounces of aloes dissolved in three or four quarts of hot water* 
with fifty or sixty drops of the essence or oil of peppermint. If 
the animal is not relieved in fourteen or fifteen hours, the bleeding 
should be repeated. 
The course of physic here recommended may be thought severe; 
but when it is considered that the disease will soon destroy the 
animal if relief is not quickly procured, and that the cure, as in 
the human subject, entirely depends on a free passage through 
* These horses were not in the 25th regiment, nor brought to me until 
they were in the above situation, which I was informed had succeeded 
the gripes. In one, a passage through the intestines was procured in about 
twenty hours, and the animal recovered ; in the other, no passage being 
effected, he died. 
