MONOMANIA IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 393 
the circumstances might not have arisen, which alone would de- 
velope the insanity, and the horse is sought to be returned for a 
vice which he never exhibited when in the possession of his 
former owner. This opens quite a new and an interesting, and a 
very perplexing division of veterinary jurisprudence. 
1 will illustrate the subject by the narration of some facts. 
CASE I. 
In 1806, during the campaign of Austerlitz, a Piedmontese 
officer possessed a beautiful, and, in other respects, a most ser¬ 
viceable mare, but which one peculiarity rendered, at times, 
exceedingly dangerous for the saddle. She had a decided aver¬ 
sion to papery which she immediately recognized the moment she 
saw it, and even in the dark if one or two leaves were rubbed 
together. The effect produced by the sight or sound of it was so 
prompt and so violent, that in many cases she unhorsed her 
rider; and in one case, his foot being entangled in the stirrup, 
she dragged him a considerable way over a stony road. In other 
respects, this mare had not the slightest fear of objects that 
would terrify most horses. She regarded not the music of the 
band, the whistling of the balls, the roaring of the cannon, the 
fire of the bivouacs, or the glittering of arms. The confusion and 
noise of an engagement made no impression upon her ; the sight 
of no other white object affected her; no other sound was re¬ 
garded ; the view or the rustling of paper alone roused her to 
madness. 
All possible means were employed to cure her of this extraor¬ 
dinary and dangerous aberration, but without success; and her 
master was at length compelled to sell her, for his life was in 
continual danger. 
CASE II. 
• 
A mare belonged to the Guard-Royal from 181G to 1821. 
She was perfectly manageable, and betrayed no antipathy to the 
human being, nor to other animals, nor to horses, except they 
were of a light grey colour : but the moment she saw’ a grey 
horse she rushed upon it, and attacked it with tlie greatest fury. 
It w’asthe same at all times and every w'here. She was all that 
could be wished on the parade, on the route, in the ranks, in 
action, and in the stable; but such was her hatred towards grey 
or white horses, that it was dangerous to place them in the same 
stable with her, at whatever distance. If she once caught 
a glimpse of one, whether horse or mare, she rested not until 
she had thrown her rider, or broken her lialter, and then she 
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