APOPLEXY IN THE HORSE. 
7 
tlie months of July, August, and September, nothing was more 
common than an attack of staggers among these horses, and 
wdiich his father rightly attributed to the luxuriant pasture they 
were turned into, combined with the dependent posture of the 
head, and the sultry heat to which they were exposed in 
marshes destitute of places for shade. They were relieved by the 
free*and immediate use of the lancet, provided they were timely 
attended to. 
A more general View of the Causes of Staggers. —Cases of 
staggers have occurred, in which the stomach was nearly or 
perfectly empty; but then we usually found that some of the 
viscera were overloaded. Even that cause of disturbance has 
also been wanting; but there has been inflammation of the 
mucous coat of the stomach and intestines. In a few instances 
no existing cause of this cerebral aftection could be detected. 
The thoracic and the abdominal viscera were perfectly sound; 
but there was venous congestion everywhere, and particularly in 
the cranial cavity. In the greater number of cases, however, 
the disease was clearly of digestive origin ; and we are war¬ 
ranted in regulating our treatment by the expectation that we 
shall find this in the particular case that is brought before us. 
We will not dispute whether it is the distention of the stomach, 
as first taught by Mr. Coleman, or inflammation of that viscus, 
as inculcated by Mr. Blaine ; or whether it may not result from 
morbid irritability of any other portion of the digestive appa¬ 
ratus, or of the digestive apparatus generally ; or whether it 
may not, although rarely, appear wEen the digestive organs have 
nothing to do with it. The prevalent cause is, plainly, disten¬ 
tion of the stomach, or sympathy between the brain and the 
stomach; and on this view of the disease we are justified in 
acting : although it cannot be denied that the causes of staggers 
are far from being confined to the stomach alone, but may be 
found in abdominal irritation anywhere. 
Very strange accounts are given of the quantity of food 
occasionally found in the stomach in these cases. There is 
a well-authenticated record of the stomach and its contents 
weighing sixty pounds. The stomach was not ruptured ; but 
the coats of the viscus were so attenuated by the distention 
which such an enormous mass must occasion, that they were 
lacerated with the slightest touch. Mr. Percivall relates two 
cases, in one of which the contents of the stomach weighed 
forty-five pounds, and in the other fifty pounds. 
The Jmportance of Inquiry as to the Cause. —We should 
never fail to instit ute the most diligent inquiry into the previous 
circumstances of the case. Does it arise from improper manage- 
