Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-26


disease. which has been termed cereoro.
spinal meningitis, has. Within the past two
weeks, broken out among the horses In this
city: Ii has not been confined to any particular
lOcaiity, out mas appeared In horse railroad
Stables, private and livery stables, in various
parts Of the city. The disease was first notic5i
In TINS country 10 years ago. when tt spread 20
an alarming extent, attacking thousands OF
horses. Most OF those that were attacked, out
not kllied oy 1t, never recovered their former
sstIengIh. veterinary surgeons and stab
causes OF, or the remedies for, this disease but
nearly an say mat meningitis has broken out
ID more or less violent form every spring
Slnce ISL some attribute the disease to the
severity OF the weather and the filthy streets;
others TO the great strain to which horses
were suDlectea In drawing heavy loads through
tne snow and 10 starting heavily laden trucks
and cars on the slippery Streets and Others to
the TACT that many horses were kept indoors
Tor ions time during the extreme cold
weathel, ana then, as soon as a thaw set In,
| taken out and oyerdriven. Still others are of
opinion that 1t Is caused by feeding horses On
corn.
At the stable of the xth-avenue Railroad
company some 10 horses were attacked by
spinal meningitis Three have died aai one
more Is expected TO die. Mr.. Butler, president
was difficult to understand this epidemic or its
| causes. He had read 10 works on veterin ,ry
topics that 1t was known In Europe so ne POO
| years ago, when 1t carried of thousands OF
horses. The first symptoms of the dlsease ap
pear Ia the lower part OF the antmar5 back aud
his hind quarters seem TO be para,yzej. HIS
hid legs bend under him and he Is unable to
Stand. Inc next stage Is delirium, and ne
morse rears. Jumps and plunge5. Death quickly
follows. When horses legs become paralyzed
the animal Is supported Win sings. lie Is thus
, rested and prevented from doing himself any
injury. AS q rule, more mares than horses are
a',acked: On one occasion a mare WIS
"a n with meningitis, and learned vtterln iry
sbes sn1ma VINO Wo hsd been called said that
Mr.. Butler ordered the mare to be- bIad
Id the neck. After the operation she
appeared to be somewhat relieved, and stuck
out her tongue as If thirsty. Water was given
heI and she drank copiously. She grew better
ana was able to do some work, but never recov-
cred her former strength. The fact OF the mare
oelng relieved by bleeding, said Mr.. Butler
liigAt iead one TO suppose that undue pressure
OF The blood On the brain had something to do
WIN the disease. The theory that meningitis
was caused by corn feeding was started because
u ho was observed that at Bulls Head, the great
the disease did not break out. But ft has an
peared IN private stables where only oats were
gwen, and that fact expiodes the theory. When
asked whether the disease was contagious MIR
Butler said he could not tell. one horse ont
OF pair that had been driven together was at
lacked, and after five or six days its companion
was aa also taken SICK with the meningitis. When
d morse mas once had the disease IL Is no longer
Ht ior hald work. IE drags its hind legs and
wears out Its hoofs. Such horses are sold by
Inc Tallroad companies as soon as possible
80 49, ihoiy ScOu Ill lulo CITY
was asked what he thought OF the disease He
said that be had under his care about IA horses
mat had been attacked By spinal mentngtfis
He Old not think that many horses died OF IL.
The majority OF those attacked would recover
thoroughly II properly taken care OF. They re.
qulre caIe1ul hygielc treatment and to have
certain st1mulantS administered TO them There
was no doubt that the disease now prevalent
was nervous disorder. Superintendent Lead
better, of the 7th avenue railroad, said that
they had had several cases OF spinal meningitis
Id the stables d few weeks ago he did not
mink the disease was contagious. because
hoises that had occupied stalls far from each
OTHER had been affected, While the fninedI-
ate Ieighbors OF the sick horses had
escaped. superintendent Wilson, of the
klghtn avenue railroad, said that
several cases OF the disease had occurred IN the
companys stable. AT the stables OF the Third
Avenue Railroad Company the forem an SAID
that none OF the horses were laid I'D with the
malady. The veterinary surgeon of the stables
said that this winter has been so severe that
many horses have oyer-strained themselves In
starting heavtly-loaded trucks on the icy pave.
mentS. The result has been that they have
strained their backs. and show weakness In pre-
clseiy the locality where man would feel the
pain who had wrenched his back. on the
dead boat at the foot Of West 3Sth streaE
where ali the dead horses are taken 1t was said
that there had not been any perceptible in.
crease In the mortality among horses within
the past few days, but that the mortality has
been greater this winter than last, The aver
age number Of deaths daily last winter was *
This winter, about % horses have died daily In
this city.-N. 7. Times.