Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19

How to Cure H.


Eds. Country Ge1sttendn:-The re is terribly
fatal disease, called pink-eye, carrying off the
horse in this section. All that are taken die
with few exceptions. Only two, so far, in this
immediate neighborhood, have sur vived. and
they are still sick, tho ugh reported slowly con-
valescng, and they we re treated with so many
remedies that it is di fcut to tell which did the
most good The first sy mptoms are sluggish
ness, hanging OF the head, and total loss of APP
petite, with tenden cy to lean against some
thing; they are found to have raging fever,
and in few hours stagger lose the use Of hind
legs. have fits and die. all the while dripping
with cold perspiration. Those W hich live over
II hours lose the use Of all tn cir limbs and the
extrernities swell and get cold; hey refuse both
drink and food. and finally die from exhaustion.
The cervical region of the spine or cerebrum
(rather cerebelum) or both (cerebrO-spina me-
hingltis) must be the real seat of the disease. as
this is the only way to account for the paralysis,
thOugh the bronchi9, lungs, and stomach may
be also implicated-a malarial epiZOOty. We
have had the wind almost continuously from the
south and southeast for six weeks. which has
(besides bringing myriads of mosquitoes from
the swamps south of u.s. spread a malarial cpl
demic up the Atlantic slope, even upon the
highlands which have been considered exempt.
This horse disease resembles very much. in its
! incipiency. our dumb ague. The continuous
southern wind may have great deal to do with
the spread of this disease well as its origin,
and with it Is Our most unhealthy wind
coming as it does from the deadly yellow fever
section. The yellow fever is closely related to
If not identical with our malarial troubles be-
ing miti@ated by temperature, for our continued
and intermittent fevers are not many removes
from the Panama and tropical fever
Twenty horses have died in my neighborhood.
not counting those in the city of Annapolis. and
the disease is spreading. have never seen or
examined one, and the above indefinite descrip-
ton is from what 1 have heard. Many are
painting around and up the noses of their
horses with tar as preventive. The two cases
reported above getting better were blistered
down the neck and behind the ears. also bled
and given so grains of quinne (much too little
to do good each. besides being drenched with
cOnglOmerate mess We are much in need of
vertnary surgeon, and proper post-mOrtem
examination by such one would no doubt
throw much light upon the dsea Sc Since
writing the above have heard of a certain
cure, in which sulphur and cream of tartar pre-
dominate. If true, will send the recipe for
publication. G. W. d.
Annapolis. Md.
ANSWER BY DIR. E. MOORE, N. R. Cvs.1
This disease exists as an epiZOOtic in the
spring and fall Of some seasons, and it may be
said to be sporatic at all times. 1t begins with
rig0rs or shivering, fever, and swelling of limbs
and eyelids, with flow of tears down the face
The animal is dull, loses appetite, and lifts the
limbs from pain, shifting them often. After
the limbs are considerably swollen the pain
mostly ceases. The redness and swelling of the
eyelids gave rise to the name ''pink-eye" The
bowels are torpid and faces covered By shiny
mucus, and the evacuation are dark-cOl-
Ored. There is sometimes cough present
and some disturbance in the breathing but not
serious unless aggravated by cold, neglect or
metastaSis 1t is not necessary to speak here of
internal temperature, pulse, &c, as the Ord-
nor dor k1c
ease pure and simple. it is not dangerous or OBJ
stlnate In proper hands. The animals recover
IN from four to ten days Of course if any COM
plications set in it may require longer time. or
De fatal. depending upon the type of disease as
soclated with it. 1t may. however, in some sea-
sons, owing to certain conditions, climate and
general surroundings of animals take on a fatal
character Owing to a tendency to the fOrma-
ton of cOagulable material in the blood clOts
are sometimes formed within blood cavities, and
death is thus produced. Or. if the blood vessels
OF the brain are the seat Of thrOmbi we may
have cases of paralysis brain symptoms of vari-
Gus kinds &c
Where good veterinary surgeon can be had,
he should be given charge of the animals. Not
having One give in the first stage of the disease
ball composed of DIR. of Barbados aloes DOW
dered nitrate of potash 3 dr.. and powdered gem
tian 5 dr. Also, give halt the following drench
the first day, repeating the second Spirits of
turpentine. o.; raw oil, IL o.: mix The
limbs should be rubbed with equal parts of
spirits of camphOr, acOnite and laudanum, or
with spirits alone; afterwards being bandaged.
Steamed oats. bran, carrots and apples. also
grass Gf it is availabe) make the best diet.
Handwriting of limbs is good. Box stalls are
best for these patients. If the breathing is
quickened. the following drench three times per
day will be necessary: Sweet spirits of nitre.
spirits of camphOr of each o.; fluid extract of
belladOnna, Is dr.; fluid extract of foxgOve, 20
mnims; water, a pint. 1t is well to dissolve in
the drinking water q OF. of powdered sal nitre
twice or thrice daily. But It must be remem-
bered that this treatment is for ''pink-eye" and
not for score of diseases improperly so-called.
Country Gentleman.