The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-16


AS terrible. almost. as any one Of the
seven plaques of Egypt has been the
plague of mosquitoes that visited some
of the eastern counties of North Caro-
lima this summer
They stung people to the point of posi-
tive torment, at some places rendering
work in the fields an impossibilty: they
drove cattle so far into the bays and
streams that they were drowned; caused
sheep and calves to run themselves to
death in an attempt to escape their at
lacks. AT night fires had to be built about
residences, stables and cattle yards that
the smoke might drive off enough of the
mosquitoes to make rest or sleep posi-
BILE.
one man who has recently visited some
or the coast counties says: II saw cat
tie patiently hudded about smoking
stumrs in the darkness, while the houses
in which people lived were filled with
the smoke of burning rags. The very
air was alive at night with the little
singing pests. No living thing seemed
able to escape their sharp bills. though
perhaps cattle and horses suffered most,
because least able to defend themselves =
The reports of greatest damage come
from Hyde county, where the soil. vegeta-
ton andsdrafnage are especially favorable
to the mosquito. About 200 horses have
died there from disease inoculated into
the system by the mosquito and quite as
many are now sick. 1t is estimated that
already the loss to the farmers of the
county amounts to $4,000, and it will
reach much higher figures unless the
disease can be speedily checked.
DR.. J. w. Petty. who was sent to Hyde
county by the Agricultural Department.
to investigate the disease among the
horses, returned yesterday and will later
make a full report to the department.
He said to News and Observer reporter:
AT least 200 horses nave recently died
in Hyde county causing loss of $780,
600. The disease begins with what is
generally called staggers, and ending in
fever that lis usually fatal.
THE staggers are caused by ptomainc
poison resulting from bad food, especially
cats or seeding hay cut green and i'm
perfectly cured. Very few horses die from
the staggers, but they are greatly weak
ened. Then the fever sets in and to that
the animal succumbs.
L
found was confined to the mosquito dis
trict and from such study of it and the
conditions as l have been able to make,
am convinced that it is inoculable by
mosquitoes. / found on the horses, under
the skin where they had been bitten,
great sores, ranging from the size of a
pea to that of an egg, and filled with
yellow pus. 1t is not these sores, but the
fever resulting from them that kills the
horse The fever early becomes localized
in some vital spot such as the lungs, kid
neys, brain or spinal cord and usually
there is no chance for recovery.
about the only treatment for horse
thus attacked is to administer large doses
of ounine and laxatives, and the appli-
cation of ice or cold water to the head
and back If this is begun in time, and
the animals is not already too much
weakened by the staggers, recovery is
possible. Some horses. to whom this
treatment was administered seemed to
be convalescent when l left.
But do not put SO much stress on
curative treatment as on preventive
measures The best prescription for this
is Guinine given internally and an ex
ternal application of kerosene oil and
creolin solution twice a day. Only last
years grain and forage should be fed to
such animals. N
These Instructions wilt asbe sent at
once to every postoffices III Hyde county
for distribution among the farmers. ~;
DR.. Petty says the mosquitoes in Hyde.
county are even now something terrific.
though the people there told him the
number had greatly decreaset within the.
last week or so.