Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-02-15
EQUINE PARALYSIS.
A Veterinary Tells How 1t Is Caused and
Suggests Remedy.

Veterinary Tells How 1t Is Caused and
Suggests a Remedy.
There has been heavy mortality
among horses particularly those used
for carriage and road purposes. The
disease is called spinal meningitis. The
fact that this malady is only prevalent
among the better class makes the sub
ject we'll worth considering. When the
subject was mentioned to Dr. NJ. II.
McKillip, the assistant State Veterina-
rian, he said: There is no doubt that
the mortality is great, and it is due to
overlooking. IT is an every day occur
renee of late to see horses falling sud-
denly and dangerously i'll upon the
streets without any apparent cause. In
most cases the patient will fall and be
unable to rise and in nearly all cases
the victims are shapely, rather hand
some, and very feshy. The cause is
due unquestionably to high feo.iing.
With animals that areallowed to stand
in the stall a number of days with q
usual allowance of nutritious food the
circulation becomes sluggish, the result
OF which is an accumulation of albumi-
nous or heterogeneous material in the
system. Upon receiving brisk exer-
else subsequently this accumulation be-
comes suddenly oxidized, causing the
disease known among veterinarians as
azonturia- The public hears it called
as spinal meningitis.
''Is there any particular class of food
that seems more disposed to superin-
duce the disease than others?"
81 have noticed that oats and corn in
large proportions are very apt to bring
about this condition. Upon examina-
tion it appears that nearly all the cases
/ have encountered have been traceable
to this class of food given freely during
period OF rest. The largest number
of attacks among horses owned in and
around Chicago is during the winter
months, when they are liberally fed
without sufficient exercise to stimulate
the excretary organs and preclude the
accumulation OF albuminoids. Having
met with so many cases during the win
ter months and so few during the sum-
mer we have seen fit to call it winter
paralysis.
"What preventive would you pro-
poser"
MY advice to horse owners is to feed
moderately whom their horses are idle,
and II possible have their animals ex-
ercised daily. Give them frequently
fair-sized potions OF bran mash, to
which half an ounce of nitrate OF potash
(saltpeter) may be added twice or
three times q week at night to stimu-
late the kidneys. They must be cau-
tious, however, not TO give brisk exer-
else TO well-fed animals that have been
standing in the stable for some time.
You can not use too much precaution
with well-fed, vigorous and thriving
horses When seized with the disease
the animal will be attacked by the
rigors, which will be quickly followed
by profuse perspiration and complete
or partial loss of motive power in one
or both the hind quarters. When the
appearance OF the disease is first noticed
the patient should be taken to the
nearest convenient place and properly
clothed until the services OF a veterin-
ary surgeon could be obtained. In
those cases where the loss OF the power
OF looomotion Is 80 great and suddenly
produced that the animal is unable to
rise and maintain standing position
the prognosis Is unfavorable, - Chicago
Herald.