The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-18
GOldenrOd Killing Horses.

A correspondent of Garden d Forest
writes from Beaver Dam, Wis, as fol-
lows:
L" During the past four years a large
number of horses have died in the
northern part of this state from the raw
ages of disease which has baf1led the
skill Of veterinarians, and | have been
called upon to make Investigations as
to the cause and nature of the maiady.
AT first it was thought to be anthrax.
and samples of the blood and sections
from the spleen and other internal or
gans were sent to the Bureau Of Ami
NAL Industry ana to DIR. Russell of the
State University, for meteorological ex
animation. Numerous bacteria were
found, but the bacillus anthracis was
not present.
"The horses affected were, in the
majority of cases, heavy draft horses
from the lumber camps. These ami
mails were brought from the woods in
the spring, usually in good condition,
and turned out to pasture. Most of
them were fed grain while on pasture.
On the farm Of Mr.. G. F. Reynolds,
Hayward, Wis, over seventy horses
have died during the past four years
from this peculiar malady. The pas
ture contained about four hundred
acres, three hundred acres of which
had been broken and seeded to timothy.
Adjoining this was one hundred acres
of slashings, or land from which the
timber had been cut, but which had
never been broken. This was thicBly
covered with goldenrod. On one side
of the farm is lake with a clean gravel
bottom and shore. The lake is fed by
springs. There is no marsh or low
land on the farm. Upon investigation,
l became convinced that the cause of
the food or water, and watched the
horses closely for several days, and
saw them eating the goldenrod greediy
some of hem, especially those af-
fected, seeming to prefer the plant to
anything else.
q also visited the farm of Peter
Truax, near Eau Claire. There is no
eoldenrod to be found on this farm,
and the disease has not made its APP
pearance. During the past summer
Mr.. Truax placed ten horses in pasture
near by, where the plant was plentiful,
and eight of them died dnripg the sum-
mer, and the remaining two are af-
fected. When the healthy horses are
taken from the pasture in the fall, the
disease disappears. None of the ami
mails attacked by the malady have re
covered, and medicinal treatment does
not seem to produce any beneficial eff
feet.
"Symptoms: The animal appears
dull, ears dropped, temperature ele-
waited, ranging from 1899 to 1919 Fab
renheit, during the entire course of the
disease. The visible mucous mem
branes are pallid. On the mucous
membranes of the vulva, small pete
chial spots are seen. Occasionally the
legs swell, and 9iematous enlarge
ments appear under the abdomen.
The appetite remains fairly good dur
ing the entire course of the disease.
Emaciation takes place rapidly as the
disease advances. Los of co-ordina~
ton with staggering gait. Death takes
place in from two weeks TO two months
from the onset.
Post norton: On cutting open the
body the blood appears to be com.
PiSeSAI uioAhcS i0tCds lCoCLuDIluS OTulu-
sry blood serum. Int shines bloodless,
with numerous petechial spots on the
mucous membrane. Spleen enlarged,
weighing from six to ten pounds. No
structural changes apparent to the
naked eye. The lungs and kidneys ap-
normal. The brain and spinal
cord were not examined.
81 am fully convinced that this dis
ease is due either TO some poisonous
principle in the plant or some parasitic
fungus upon the surface OF the same.
1t is now too late in the season for any
investigation to be carried on in this
direction this year, but intend to have
the matter thoroughly investigated next
summer"
1t would be interesting, as our con-
temporary suggests, to know which one
of the many species of Solidago is sus-
pected Of causing this disease, and
whether horses are similarly affe cted
in other sections of the country where
this species grows in pasture lands.