STAGGERS is the farrier's appellation for the dis orders of the brain; and observation (which, so far as it goes, is accurate) has led them to make a di vision of the disease into two stages, distinguished by the phrases sleepy and mad staggers.
The lethargic state, denoted sleepy staggers, may, as we have before intimated, indicate either an over charged stomach,or a plethoric state of the vessels of the brain; in which latter case it is, in general, only the prelude to a very different condition, viz. to mad staggers A horse thus affected will stand with his head thrust against some hard body—the rack, wall, or wainscotting of the stable—with his eyes closed, and doze until he falls asleep, and drops down, or perhaps backwards in the stable; which suddenly awaking him, startles and alarms him prodigiously. The eye is very worthy of ob servation: it has a remarkably full, staring aspect, and at the same time betokens stupidity and torpor. The pulse is slow; not more than 30; unless when any thing rouses the animal, and then for a few se conds it beats with exceeding quickness. In some instances, the breathing is stertorous. These (le thargic) symptoms may continue fur several days, and at length end fatally; or they may be succeeded by the mad fit, which has a still more dangerous tendency. The first warning of the approach of madness may be gathered from the rising of the pulse, and the quickening of the respiration. The eyes., before heavy and sleepy, now become ani mated. He stares wildly around him. Fits of de lirium seize him. He furiously dashes himself about, throws himself down, and lies in a state of temporary insensibility; suddenly he rises, again to become seized with the phrensy, or to relapse into his former state of stupor and somnolency, from which he is only roused by another fit of mad ness.
If any one disease more than another calls for the free use of the phleme, it is the one under con sideration: we must bleed until the animal actually reels under the loss of blood—take away from two to three gallons. And not only bleeding, but purging likewise is of paramount importance here: it is a common saying, .‘ purge a horse with stag gers and you cure him;" and there is great reason in it. The best method of procedure is to give an ounce of aloes every 12 hours, until the effect is produced; and in the intervals, rake and clyster. The head, across the forehead and upon and behind the poll, should be closely shorn, and afterwards blistered. And the legs also, which are in general icy cold in this disorder, must be stimulated either with a blistering application, or with mustard poultices.
Locurin JAW (Tetanus) is one of the most appall ing evils in our catalogue. Though a disease of the nervous system, its effects are more particular ly visible in the muscles; and most of all in the voluntary muscles; which are all seized with a spasm or rigidity, so that the animal can move no part but with pain and difficulty, while some parts are altogether immovable. The approach of the disease is generally slow. The animal commonly first shows some rigidity about the neck in turning his head to one side, which, in the course of a day or two, so much increases that he cannot turn his head at all without carrying his body round too.
The refusal of his food leads to an examination of the jaws; and they also are found rigid, or greatly limited in their dilatation, so that the mouth can be opened only to a certain extent, or even hardly at all. The eye becomes the next object of atten tion: every time any thing frightens or annoys him, the animal throws up his head, and at the same instant the haw is seen passing over the eye, which forms a very striking character of the mala dy. The limbs, now, should they not have already become attacked, likewise grow stiff, either render ing progression awkward and unnatural, or else al most impeding it altogether: indeed, in violent cases, the fore and hind legs are stretched out un derneath the body like the four legs of a stool or form; the back and loins become shrugged up from rigidity; the tail is elevated and tremulous; the ears erect; the nostrils expanded; and the counte nance displays a degree of eagerness and anxiety which, once seen, it is hardly possible to mistake; in short, the poor suffering animal exhibits altoge ther a truly impressive and pitiable aspect, too characteristic of the hopeless condition he is in, to admit of any possibility of doubt or dispute con cerning the nature of his relentless disease.
Locked jaw may arise of its own accord, or at least without any apparent cause; or it may be, and most commonly is, the consequence of some local injury. We have many examples of its hav ing been induced by nicking, and docking, and punctured wounds, particularly into joints, or the feet; and the curious circumstance is, that the dis ease generally makes its appearance after the local wound is healed up, and we conclude all is well.
We certainly continue much in the dark con cerning what mode of treatment ought to be adopt ed for this disease; though it would appear, as far as our recent experience has gone, that of all the declared " remedies" none deserve to stand so high as opium. It behoves him, however, who sets about to treat a locked jaw, to remember, 1st, that it is a malady that has but very rarely yielded to reme dy, and 2dly, that opium, like every thing else, has too often failed to give the slightest apparent relief; at the same time, opium seems to have done more than any other medicine, and consequently especi ally merits our notice. In the first instance, it is advisable to draw blood, especially if the horse should happen to be in full condition; and also to administer, as early as- possible, two ounces of purging mass, whose operation may be promoted by injections. As soon as the bowels have become freely opened, or even before, should the case prove anywise urgent, begin with the opium; if possible, administer half an ounce in ball twice a-day; but, should the jaws not admit of this being accom plished, (even by fixing the ball at the extremity of a stick.) an equivalent quantity of lat«lanum should be exhibited. Blisters may he applied, or setons inserted, along the course of the spine, and upon the head; but our chief reliance is to be placed in the exhibition of opium.