SANGUINEOUS CONGESTION. 
631 
even the vessels of the substance of the brain are in the same 
state ; for, wherever the brain is cut, minute drops of blood 
follow. 
Treatment .—Of apoplexy (determination of blood to the brain, 
and congestion there), without these immediate exciting causes, 
I shall speak in my next lecture: but the treatment of this sud¬ 
den congestion is simple enough. Bleeding is the first step, and 
from the jugular vein, if a lancet or fleam is at hand, for thus 
we shall have the advantage both of general and local depletion ; 
we shall lessen the quantity of blood flowing through the system, 
and we shall empty the overloaded, and distended, and probably 
debilitated, vessels of the brain. The owner of the horse fre¬ 
quently adopts the temporary expedient of cutting the bars of 
the mouth. If this is but effected deeply enough, and in a line 
between the central and second incisors, and about an inch be¬ 
hind them, plenty of blood may be obtained, and we shall also have 
the benefit of a general bleeding. The curb-rein should be 
loosened, and, if possible, the collar eased. The prudent man 
will guard against a repetition of this attack : he will have the 
collar permanently altered, so that it shall not press upon the 
jugular ; he will place the horse on a somewhat restricted and 
mash diet; and he will take the first opportunity of administering 
a strong dose of physic. To this will follow occasional doses of 
alterative medicine, or, what is better, a run at grass. 
Precaution .—Is all this necessary because a horse has hap¬ 
pened to have a fit of the megrims? Yes, and more too, in the 
mind of the prudent man; for it is seldom that a horse has the 
megrims once, without having at least the predisposition to a 
second attack established. These over-distended vessels may be 
relieved for awhile, but it is long before they perfectly recover 
their former tone and strength. It requires but a little increased 
velocity or force in the vital current once more to distend them 
and to produce the same dangerous effects. The testimony of 
experience is uniform about this ; and he would not do justice to 
himself or his family who trusted himself behind a horse that had 
had a second attack of megrims. 
