Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-13
Interesting. description OF IL post
mOrfem Examination Os ~ Horse
that died Of Blind SfasScrS.

EDIToRs JoURNAL:-I have thought
that / might make serious personal
mis- ort1lne, of some advantage to your
readers, by describing the symptoms,
treatment, and post n2O1tcn2 appear
ancc of fatal case of blind staggers,
which recently deprived ne of a most
valuable horse. And I also wish to
call attention to the fact, that there is
almost nothing known Of the cause or
nature of this terrible malady, even by
the most intelligent physicians whom [
have conversed with on the subject.
This is certainly to be regretted, for at
present these valuable animals are in
trusted into the hands of the most ig-
norantI empires. The premonitory
symptoms jill the case of my horse were
loss of appetite, with sluggishness of
motion. There was no fever. On the
Bird instant, | drove eight miles TO
visit patient, but allowed my horse
to walk the entire distance. When L
went to take him from the stable to
return, he refused to come out, and
exhibited considerable temper aad
when forced to come out he pressed
hard against the right door Intel, and
all the way [ had great difficulty to
keep him in the road. the tendency
being to move to the right. Several
times I was compelled to lead him by
the bit. This tendency continued
throughout the attack. When loosed
in my inclosure, he would walk in a
circle, always to the right.
For the first twelve hours there was
no indication of much pain. There
were paroxysms of It stIessness, which
were succeeded by complete quiet
tie interval lasting for about two hours
generally. After this the pain seemed
to grow more acute, and [ discovered
that during paroxysm the horse took
no notice of any object whatever, but
would go against a tree or stump, OF
into ditch When the pain subsidized
this symptom disappeared, which salts
fed me that the horse was not really
blind, as is vulgarly supposed. There
was constipation of the bowels and the
fceces had very peculiar glazed APP
clearance. There was entire suppress
hion or urine, the kidneys failing t.
act. think, as [ could discover nC
fluctuation in the bladder.
The suffering grew so rapidly worse
that I was compelled to contine th'
horse in a stable. Here the same ten
dency to move to the right continued
and the rapid passing from corner tt
corner, driving his head against .h'
wall, plunging again and again, until
from the very violence of his e2ertiol
he would fail and remain perfect.
quiet until another paroxysm. Thi:
lasted for two days and nights.
lerer haze witnessed more INTENSE
suffering, or experienced greater relief
than when death ended the agonizins
s,;ene. A Post nsortcR examination
showed the small intestines to haE'
been 'ntiamed for the entire length
except two short sessions measuring
two and half and five inci:es o
healthy gut. There was inflammation
III the large intestine about the ile'
coecal valve above this point tn
bowel was impacted with undigestet
food; the stomach also contained I
Quantity of corn. The small bowe
,4as empty and the 1nucus coat coult
Pc easily rubbed off with the finger
nall: The brain presented the follow
ing appearance in the left Hemisphere
VI The cerebrum and near the line o
separation of the two hemispheres,
iouhd clot Of blood imbedded o