The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-18

-h-N-N.ht .'.-asN. A-tt.. 81 tN--llN. Harry
A -lsisu-r, state veterinarian. has pre-
uaT.1 aa article upon the s0-caIIed c-re-
hro-s-.aai meningitis among livestock,
which v.I Doe of Ereat value 20 farmers
and stos-as,u throughout the State. The
article vas written especially 20 meet the
present condition Of the disease in south
ern Maryland, but it is also applicable 20
conditions i'm other parts Of the State.
where. according TO Or Nieisnor. the dis
ease is more prevalent than it would be-
If more care was taken in the treatment
of stock. Tie says.
'Cerebro-spinaI meningitis is also
known as putrid sore throat. cerebrO-spi-
nal fever. spasms of the neck, blind stag
gers, and stomach stagsgrs- Ii has also
been spoken OF as cers br0-spinal memia.
but this is a misnomer, as the pOst-mor-
TEN LESSONS reveal q hypeTaemic and not
an anemic condition. The better term
would be uliasmatic cerebro-mye Iitis.
This disease was first observed in
America about the year 1s5), where 1t ap-
peared in New York with great virulence-
In Germany the first observations were
made in lS65.- in Denmark il has appear
cd annually since 1851 In the year 1876 it
existed in an epizoouc state in Egypt.
and in Cairo and its suburbs il caused the
death Of 5.e3 horses, zoo mules, and 600
doukoys
1t is a miasnatfc affection Of the
horse, which is seen also in the mule, OK,
goat and dog. Il is most frequently seen
I'm the horse and sheep. Young animals.
especially lambs. wethers, and strong
colts are predisposed 10 il. yet age grants
no immunity. It may occur sporadicaly,
but usually appears as an enZooty IN a
stable. city or farming district. and may
or may not Doe localized, but may spread
over an extended area. along rivers, val
Ieys. or mountains. cutaiing great loss In
its course.
"Am0nE the predisposing causes may be
mentioned bad drainage, low, swampy
places frequently seen in stables situated
on streets which have no drainage. sta
bIes that are badly lighted and venu-
lated The presence OF water IS also
factor I'm the causutiun. as we frequently
ind this disease 1t the commencement Of
the wet months in autumn OF summer
Vegetable fermentation is another of
the predisp0sing causes, as spelling hay,
scrapings Of food found on old barn
floors, as a fungus is found in the hay
seed and dust: feeding dccayed potatoes.
corn cookie "a tall purpIe-fowerod weed
Of the pink family which grows in grain
heldsj either in feed or in rye used Tor
bedding. excessive use Of Indian corn,
worm-eateu corn. moIdy or musty hay OF
straw. drinking water from impure OF
contaminated wells or cisterns, brewers
grains. decomposed ensIlage, moldy fOd-
der, spoiled grain. etc. IL is frequently
seen in districts where typhoid fever is
prevalent in the human family
Yet in spite Of all the foregoing as
stables where conditions from a sanitary
standpoint are all that could be expected.
also where horses are srazed upon pas
lures free apparently from any de!eteriOUs
matters and whose drainage Is perfect. Il
affects animals Of al ages, sex, and in
all conditions Nothing seems TO lessen
or preclude the possibility Of their 5ecOTn-
ing Affected nor does one attack grant an
immunity. as they may become affected
again and die.
The symptoms may be rapid in their
progress or slow in their development.
One Of the first symptoms to manifest it
self IS a general condition Of lassitUde on
the part Of the animal. listlessness. fire.
quently a perverted attention There may
or may not be a loss OF appetite or thirst.
Frequently the animals stand with heads
in corners Of the stall. as though afraid
10 get away from IL In this condition II
they be made 10 move back, OF their heads
be suddenly raised high, they will often
real back. staggeT and fall
the side Of the stall for support. When
caused to move they invariably struggle
20 maintain their equilibrium only 20 fall,
probably never To rise again
In others again q staggering gait IS
observed, with partial or total inability
TO swallow. which becomes aggravated
until they drop. when they may undergo
a series of struggles just as natural as
though they were trOtting or pacing OF
running on the ground in natural. up
right position
Others assume a tetanic form. in which
the jaws are completely 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 pardlyzed. In others a tWitching
OF the muscles is seen.
in some q condition Of coma Is Oh
served with deep. slow respiratiOus, per
fectly insegslDle 10 all surroundings This
condition Of coma becomes more and more
profound until they die. while In others
the reverse IS trUe-Jhey struggle violent
~ until they exhaust their vital energies.
Another condition frequently observed
is the great INCLINATION 20 wander in cir
Gle When placed IN a stall they viii Oft
en- keep up taelT movements as though
they were unreStralucd-
At times we find the ears. body. and
extremities cold and Clammy, while the
tail hangs as though paralyzed and I'M
able 20 perform it's functions COnstiDa-
ton NAV or may not be present. or they
NAV have "A diarrhOea showing an effort
of nature TO rid the intestinal tract Of del
st@rious matters.
The pulse is variable. 10 NAV be rapid,
normal. or slow Respirati0ns may DE ac-
CELEBRATED. natural. or slow There may OF
may not be an elevation Of temperature.
Visible muCuOus membranes may be red
or ycllOwish.
The prognosis is grave, as the percent
age Of deaths IS always great
The termination IS usually death and IN
q majority Of the cases results from the
profound coma They may also die OF
starvation, for In certain conditions 10 is
impossible to feed them.
in the brain and spinal cord We find a
Serious. yellOWish. and turhii liquid or
nbriuo-purulert eXudate which D. milky or
yellOWish grey IN some cases the nerve
roots are entirely surrounded by purulent
cXudatc. The superficial layer Of the
brain and OF the spinal cord is AT times
softCncd by the Oedema, at other times il
is iuhltrated with pus
We also find islands Of sCfteuing in the
brain and spinal cord, also quite frequent
IL find hcmOrrhagc surfaces OF centres In
the brain and in the spinal cord Blood
may be black and uOI-cOaEulabIe. liver
may be sOftened and Of "A clay color If
the horse has been IN a reCumbeut DOsi-
ton for any length Of time We viii find an
the alterations OF cungestious Of the
lungs No essential alteration is 20 be
found IN the heart or It's membranes May
find catarrhal LESSONS Of intestiues
The treatment on the whole is quite
unsatisfactory. When first taken the
horse should be placed In sings and "A
prompt cathartiC- say one ounce Of pow
dered alOes should be given in half a pint
Of water. II the head and fits region are
hot ice bags should be used. stimulauts
preferably in the form Of whisky Of
which four ounces and a like quantity Of
water may be given every four hours II
bTiskly rubbed and bandaged. If the sur
face Of the body IS cold o. should be vel!