OBSCURE DISEASE IN A HORSE. 
81 
flesh, until about the last day of March. During all this 
time any attempt made at eating hay would renew the 
paroxysms, the head being always turned violently to the right 
side. His owner not being so attentive to his feeding, from 
believing the case hopeless, the horse was losing flesh 
rapidly. 
April 1st, a.m. — I visited my patient accompanied by a 
medical gentleman of this city. The animal is now fast 
declining; I put some hay into his mouth on one side; 
it remained there for several minutes, but upon his attempt- 
ing to masticate it, the paroxysm produced was so violent 
that he suddenly reared up and fell backwards in his stall. 
Indeed, my medical friend became quite alarmed at the 
condition of my patient. His opinion, however, was, that 
he was suffering from cerebral disease ; but he was unable to 
account for the immediate restoration to consciousness after 
the apparent suspension of the cerebral excitement, and which 
only resulted from the attempt to eat hay. I gave no 
medicine. 
2d. — J. H. Stickney, Esq., with whom I have long been 
acquainted, and w ho is a medical student of Harvard Medical 
College, having heard of the case, desired to accompany me 
on my visit. After an examination of the animal, being un- 
able to discover any material change, and the day being fine, 
I ordered the horse to be turned into a small paddock close 
by. When he w^as loosed from the halter he w T as quite 
playful, lying down and rolling, rising again, and walking 
round, but did not attempt to feed. But when in the stable 
he was always ready to eat from the hand and drink from a 
bottle, i. e ., when put into his mouth. I remained near the 
paddock some tw r enty or thirty minutes, when f observed 
him making an attempt to reach the ground, and he fell 
upon his knees. He quickly rose again, and w-as then led 
to the stable. Upon laying my hand upon his neck over the 
articulation of the third and fourth vertebrae, I discovered 
some heat and tenderness, and the mane was easily drawm 
out. Slight pressure upon this part would bring his head 
dow T n almost to the floor of the stable. His bowels being, 
as usual, constipated, I gave a gentle laxative, and left him 
to the care of the owner. 
4th. — Again accompanied by Dr. Stickney, and a passed 
student of mine. Dr. E. F. Thayer, I visited the animal. 
Except that the head, during the mastication of hay, was now 
suddenly turned to the left side, whereas it had always before 
been turned to the right, with this single exception, we saw’ 
but little difference in the symptoms. The owner, however, 
