Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-09-27
MENINGITIS IN HORSES.
Maryland's Veterinarian Gives
Views on Disease.

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Maryland's Veterinarian Gives
Views on Disease.
DR.. Harry A. Meisner, State Vet
erinarisn for Maryland, has pre-
pared an article upon the so-called
oerebro-spinal meningitis among live
stock now prevalent in Southern
Maryland and elsewhere. He says:
"Cerebro spinal meningitis is also
known as putrid sore throat, cere-
bro-spinal fever, spasms of the neck,
blind staggers and stomach staggers.
1t is a miasmatic affection Of the
horse, which is seen also In the
mule, OK, goat and dog. 1t is most
frequently seen in the horse and
sheep. Young animals, especially
lambs, wethers and strong colts, are
predisposed to it; yet age grants no
immunity. 1t may occur sporadi
cally, but usually appears as an en-
zooty in stable, city or farming
district, and may or may not be To-
Called, but may spread over an ex-
tended area, along rivers, valleys or
mountains, entailing great loss in its
course.
among the predisposing causes
may be mentioned bad drainage,
low, swampy places frequently seen
In stables situated OH streets which
have no drainage, stables that are
badly lighted and ventilated. The
presence of water is also a factor in
the causation, as We frequently find
this disease at the commencement of
the wet months in autumn or sum-
mer.
Vegetable fermentation is an
other of the predisposing causes, as
spelling hay, scrappings of food
found on old barn floors, as a fun
gus is found in the hayseed and
dust; feeding decayed potatoes, corn
cookie Ia tall purple-Howered weed
of the pink family which grows in
grain fields) either in feed or in rye
used for bedding, excessive use of
Indian corn, worm-eaten corn, moldy
or musty hay or straw, drinking
water from impure or contain
mated wells or cisterns, brewers
grains, decomposed ensilage, moldy
fodder, spoiled grain, etc. 1t is fire.
quently seen in districts where ty-
phoid fever is prevalent in the hu-
man family.
THE SYMPTOMS.
"The symptoms may be rapid in
their progress or slow in their de-
velopment. One of the first symp-
toms to manifest itself is a general
condition of lassitude on the part of
the animal, a listnessness, frequently
a perverted attention. There may or
may not be & loss of appetite or
thirst. Frequently the animals stand
with heads in corners of the stalls,
as though afraid to get away from
it. In this condition if they be
made to move hack, or their heads
be suddenly raised high, they will
often reel back, stagger and fall.
"Again, they are seen TO lean
against the side of the stall for sup
port. When caused to move they
invariably struggle to maintain their
equilibrium ouly to fall, probably
never to rise again.
ain others again staggering gait
is observed, with partial or total
inability to swallow, which becomes
aggravated until they drop, when
they may undergo series of strug-
giles just as natural as though they
were trotting or pacing or running
on the ground in a natural. upright
position. Others assume tetanic
form, in which the jaws are COM
pletely locked.
"Some are seen to be lame in first
one leg and then another. This
may last from six to twenty hours,
when they invariably become paral-
yzed. In others a twitching of the
muscles is seen. Another condition
frequently observed is the great in
clination to wander in a circle.
When placed in a stall they will
often keep up their movements as
though they were unrestrained.
"The termination is usually death
and IN a majority of the cases re-
suits from the profound coma. They
may also die of starvation, for in
certain conditions it is impossible to
feed them.
METHOD OF TREATMENT.
"The treatment on the whole is
quite unsatisfactory. When first
taken the horse should be placed in