Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-01-26
BLIND sTAGoERs.

showing the indications of the dis
ease, as we'll as its treatment and
cure, We are indebted to Prof. ROBERT
STEWART, Of Tullahoma, who informs
US that If stock-raisers would keep
strong wood ashes in the troughs
where horses and cattle are fed,
they would never be troubled. with
the blind staggsrs:
Ofthis disease less is really known
than any to which the horse is sub
iect, and none is more dangerous
or fatal. As | purpose to give some.
thing entirely new in relation to this
disease, it will be necessary to be
very explicit. The various opinions
in reference to the nature and cure
of the staggers, as also where they
are located, arc entirely erroneous.
They are supposed to be caused by
"a rush of blood to the brain. This
is mistake. The true cause is to
be found in an inlamed condition
of the optic nerves of the eyes.
The staggers may be considered a
spasmodic affection, arising from an
inAamed condition of the optic nerve
of the eyes, sometimes one and some.
times both-sometimes one in a
greater degree than the other. The
brain becomes affected and even In
famed, 10 the last stages, and is the
cause of death. Yet the origin OF
the disease is not in the brain, nor
even in the nerve Of the eye, but las
| its location lower down in the head.
An opinion prevails in the country
that this disease is caused by the
horse eating new ground corn. as it
generally comes about that time.
The worm dust on the end of the corn
in its fresh state, is known TO be very
poisonous, and is believed to pro-
duce the staggers. This is no doubt
the cause of staggers in most cases,
but they are not produced by the
mere eating of corn, as is supposed
THAT is, by the animal taking it in.
to his stomach. There is little or
tgan in the nose Of the horse, about
an inch above the outlet. 1t is a
little oriGee or hole, about an eighth
of an inch in diameter. situated on
the back part Of the nose. This lit
tie opening. with several other small
Ter ones higher up, is the outlet Of
the duct or passage that drains the
water from the eyes. (called the lach-
rymal tube.) All ANIMALS have
such organs. In the horse and mule
they are situated much lower down
than 10 others. When the animal
eats new corn, and especially new
ground corn, he snuffs the poisonous
worm dust up his nose, and it some
times lodges in these little openings
and causes them to tester and swell,
and become so stopped up that the
water from the eye cannot be dis
charged from them. These then be-
come inaamed of course, and also in
flame the nerves Of the eye, and
soon communicates with the brain,
putting an end to the animals life.
When one side only is affected, the
animal becomes entirely blind in
that eye, and partially so. through
sympathy, in the other. In this
condition be follows the imperfect
light of this eye, which causes him
to turn round and round continually,
and he runs against anything he
meets with, from the fact that he
cannot see it objects at such times
appearing sterted, out Of shape and
out of place. When both sides are
affected, he will stand and shake
and tremble. This is termed the
sleepy staggers. Sometimes the
animal shows signs Of this disease
for several days and at others only
for few hours. In each case the
disease has existed for several days
previous. You may sometimes dis
cover the approach of this disease by
an examination of the nose of the
horse. If these little openings ap-
pear to be stopped up or running
matter. you may know that your
horse is diseased in some way, and If
they appear swollen, and do not run
at all, you may look out for the stag
gers soon. When the horse is in a
healthy condition, these openings will
discharge a clear looking water,
which is the water from the eyes,
But when affected with any bodily |
disease that produces fever in the
system, they will discharge matter
and look scabby. And when, from
any cause, they become entirely
.1l H. ,t.~~.~r ill ho sura RI J