6 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
admit but of little enlargement of the blood-vessels, and 
thus to a great extent the progress of inflammation is 
arrested. Yet, notwithstanding this beautiful provision in 
nature, the horse is liable to be afflicted with diseases in the 
brain, from violent and injudicious exercise, and hard driving 
or riding in warm weather, which forces the blood to the 
head, and distends the arteries of the brain more than the 
veins; and the consequence is, the small vessels which 
ramify the substance of the brain get gorged with blood, 
and then its bulk is increased to such an extent that it 
will produce undue pressure upon the organ of the nerves, 
which is followed by loss of power and even consciousness, 
and consequences of a very serious nature frequently follow. 
The same effects are also produced by the curb-rein being 
too tight, or from the collar being too small. 
Symptoms. —The Megrims is the name of the simplest 
form of inflammation, arising from the above causes. This 
most commonly appears when a horse is over-driven. When 
attacked, he will suddenly stop and shake his head, having 
been seized with giddiness and a slight degree of unconsci¬ 
ousness. If allowed to stand for a few minutes, this will 
go off, and he will be enabled to proceed on his journey. 
But it not unfrequently happens that the attack is of a 
more severe kind ; and under such circumstances the horse 
will fall suddenly, or in other cases will run round several 
times and then fall. Sometimes he will lie quietly in a 
state of complete torpor; at other times he will struggle 
with great violence, and yet be unable to rise. In either of 
these conditions he will continue for from five to ten minutes, 
when he will gradually resume sensibility, and then will 
be able to get on his feet, and may then proceed on the 
journey. But after these attacks he generally exhibits 
symptoms of duiness and exhaustion. 
