Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/150

128] several horses, the stalls should be made sufficiently wide to enable them to lie down, or turn round without inconvenience; while the partitions ought to be raised so high towards the head, that the animals can neither see, smell, nor molest each other. Lastly, the strictest cleanliness must be observed in the management of the stable, both in order to preserve the health of horses, and to prevent the generation of any contagious effluvia. In case, however, infectious distempers should prevail, it will be necessary to resort to the following process, in order to destroy the contagion: Let half a pound of oil of vitriol, diluted with an equal quantity of water, be gradually poured into a vessel, containing 4 ounces of pulverized manganese, mixed with a pound of sea-salt. The dish ought to be placed on a heated brick; and the operator should carefully avoid the fumes arising from the vitriolic acid; as they will powerfull affect the organs of respiration.—See also, vol. ii. p. 346.  STAG, or Cervus Elaphus, L. an animal of chace, which is common in Britain, as well as in other parts of Europe, in the northern parts of Africa, Asia, and America. It is of a reddish-brown colour, with black spots on the face, and a dark stripe in the direction of the spine.

The stag is furnished with fine branching horns, which it generally sheds in the spring. The female produces one, and sometimes two fawns, towards the end of May, or early in June, after a gestation of 40 weeks. These animals attain the age of 35 or 40 years; are remarkable for their quick eye, sagacious scent, and acute ear; and, as they listen with delight to the sounds of the shepherd's pipe, this instrument has been successfully employed by hunters, for the purpose of decoying them.

The flesh of fawns is sweet and tender; but, when the stag advances in years, it acquires a strong and disagreeable flavour. Their most useful parts are, the skin and horns; the former being advantageously manufactured into leather; while the latter are converted into handles for knives, or other instruments; and, on being disstilled, they yield a volatile spirit, which is of considerable use in medicine.—See also.  STAGGERS, or Apoplexy, a disorder in the heads of, which becomes evident from the drowsiness; bad appetite; watery and inflamed eyes; and the staggering or reeling gait of the animals. The head is continually reclining on the manger; a slight fever prevails; and the discharge of urine is in a very small proportion.

If the disease arise from wounds, or blows on the head, the horse will, in addition to these symptoms, become frantic, particularly after feeding; and, if it fall down, without being able to rise, there will be little prospect of recovery.

Sometimes, the staggers proceed from colds, caught by too early turning the animal out to grass, after violent exertions: it will, therefore, be requisite to bleed him freely, and to support the head and shoulders with straw: if he survive the fit, clysters prepared from a strong decoction of senna and salt, or the purging  (mentioned, ), must be administered every morning and  ing.