Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-12-07
OUR HORSES
And the Diseases to Which they
are Subject, Particularly at
This Time.
An Interesting Paper From
Noted Veterinarian which will
Prove Useful to Stockmen.
THE HORSE MALADy,
Dr. Corcoran Contributes Another Interest
ing Paper ON This Subject.

Ing Paper ON This subject.
Editor YELLOWSTONE JOURNAL.
Since last wrote you on the sub
ject of spinitiS, which is still prevail
ing in this vicinity, | have come to
the conclusion that il. il the offspring
Of q condition OF the blood termed
aD;emia, and caused in my opinion by
smulted grasses, or exposure, or by
both. / have examined great many
cases for the past month and found all,
whether with spinitis or otherwise, in
more or less anamic condition.
As the diseaseis Is difficult to diagnose
for those inexperienced (lhere being
no lever, in fact generally the reverse,
temperature being lower sometimes
than normal, with slow, thready,
unsteady pulse} and that your readers
may understand this condition and its
causes clearly, you will permit me TO
quote ut some length some of our best
authorities:
Prof. Williams says: "The symp-
toms of anpmla are paleness of the
"visible mucous membranes, with
"often an unhealthy slzte-colored ap-
"pearsnce of that OF the nasal cavity;
"In some instances q coppery appear
lance 10 witnessed; this Is undoubtedly
"due TO an altered condition Of the
"globules, and disordered state OF the
powers by which they are formed;
"the conjuDctiva 10 pale, the mouth
"cool ana the tongue generally unnat-
"urally soft. Young growing animals
''insuificiently led aud improperly
"cared for, exposed to the vicissitudes
"of the weather during the winter
months are reduced TO an anemic
| Condition. In horses have
repeatedly witnessed the anemic
Condition, associated with extrem.
debility of the muscular system as to
stimulate spinal paralysis, and In
"some cases paralysis from the pres
"sure of serous fluid on the spinal cord
"has been actually present; but In the
horse as In horned cattle, active
"signs of the disease are not mani.
"fested until there has been D sudden
"change TO q nourishiDg diet" SO
much for the effects OF severe weather
creating this disease.
Now let US look at one Of the best
authorities on food:
Fleming's Sanitary Science on Po-
lice says: Hay, straw and other for
"sge may thus be affected and not
"only lose their nutritive qualities,
"but acquire abnormal properties, be-
coming mouldy. blighted, heated or
INFECTED with cryptogdmic groWths
belonging TO the redO OF pUcciaia
"species and termed rust 'bunp and
smut or 'dust-brand,' or blue
mould; when due to the WUcOr Ma
"ceHdo. Oats rendered
"mouldy by the presence Of the as
'pergiiis fungus are reported to have
"caused paralysis In horses, wasting OF
1.-THE muscles, aDIaurosis, debility, aud
"death. Musty hay produces similar
"effects. In animals fed on
"rus,y straw, sickness, disease and
death have been produced. ,
"The 'ergOr OF rye, wheat, ETC., has
"slsO given rise To extensive disease In
"msn and animals and birds, marked
"by convulsion, paralysis, dry gan
"grene Of the limbs, loss Of hair and
horn and other strange phenomena"
Apologizing for using 40 much OF
your valuable JOURNAL with these
quotations, / will now merely state
that found this same disease ire
quently at intervals In Idaho, Oregon
and Washington, generally In the
mountains at 'the timber line, and
locally known a. "mouRtdin Jtrer."
In the Colville valley IL WAS conlin-
uous trouble, and / had the honor OF
being ordered there 10y military au-
thority) TO investigate it at Fort Col.
Vile aud make recommendation &c.
The post was afterwards abandoned.
The disease Ia, however, here in q
transitory form, aud | hope To see 81
gone by the spring, but wherever il Is
noticed or generally FOR | believe u IL
general II would he well to have all
animals fed lIightly) on some good
sound oats or corn two or three times
a day before the severe rigors Of the
winter ret In. would add also Ia
either food or water, the sulphate Of
iron green copperas), say about tea
spoonful to each animal every day,
also the nitrate Of potash salt petrel
once per week, about " for each full
grown horse. In this manner hefded
animals can bc got under Treatment
without trouble. ! would recon-
mend, however, that those places
where most smut il found be thor
oughly burnt out. have had no
chance to make pust moftem examin-
at ons. ~ all patients have recovered
except one with parnlysi. Of the Stom-
ach. In thaD Ease found positive anW-
min with alonaPh Vpinoualv non.