The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-04-14
"STAGGERs. "

During the late summer aud fall, in
a section OF Eastern North Carolina,
an epidemic among borses has annu-
ally occurred, amounting to loss each
year of perhaps ten per cent. The
matter appearing of SO much import
ance. the consulting veterinarian OF
the Experiment Station (Dr. F. 2.
williamson was sent to make per-
sonal examination. The following
has been CLEANED from his report:
The symptoms as given are sudden in
their development. Sore throat,
water coming through nose on at
tempting to drink, rapid breathing,
loss of appetite and one of three
things the animal either walks around
in a circle to one side over any object
IN the way without apparently seeing
1T t'blind staggers') or remains per-
tectly still, with eyes partially or
completely closed, without taking the
slightest interest in surroundings un-
less aroused ("sleepy staggers'), or
dashes about furiously without regard
to self, people, or things, ("mad stag
gers"). An obstinate constipation
accompanies each case.
The land lies very low in this dis
trlct, there being many swamps and
bitches through the farms, and on
each side of the road the bitches are
filled with reddish brown stagnant
water. The vegetation is very rank,
the dews are very heavy, and do not
dry oil before noon the next dav?
The horses have very little protection,
MS rule. On some farms there are
no barns at all for housing stock. The
animals are simply turned in rough
shed to eat, then turned out again,
exposed to wind, rain and sun. Wher-
ever they are stabbed it is claimed
they are never affected, as shown by
the experience OF one farmer VINO has
not lost single case in several wears.
Another, who had not lost horse in
thirteen years, let his run to pasture
night and day this year and lost them.
Another had four pasturing; three of
these he put mp at night, leaving one
out at all times, except at feeding.
The one left out died, the other three are
in good condition. Many other cases
might be noted, hut this is enough to
show that where the animals are pro-
tectsd from the weather (the heavy
dews, rain and wind storms, for this
occurs always after rainy, hot see
sony they are free from any sickness.
Two animals dying from the disease
were found by autopsy to have died
with pneumonia complicated with
pleurisy in the first easel. The stag.
gering gait, the sleepy, half-u-c5.l.
seriousness, the r'o.1G3ss are caused by
ths toxine taken into the blood from
the diseased lung tissue, or from want
of regeneration of the blood, the
brain is not properly fed, animals be-
ing affected according to individual
disposition. The suggest on would
be to provide better stables and take
more care of the horses. Keep ami
mails in stable ut night if at no other
time. Animals already affected should
be given a bolus or dreuch of Barba-
does aloes one ounce, calomel one
dram. If this remains inactive six
teen hours, follow with Que quart raw
linseed oil. Every three hours should
be given four ounces acetate of am
monia, two drains nitrate OF potash,
two ounces sweet spirits of inter in
drencb, Food should be restricted to
Cruel, bran mash, or something easily
digested. About three or four buckets
of drinking water should be given q
day.