The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-03-04
CAUSE OF STAGGERS.
A Fatal Malady Now Prevalent
Among the Horses.
DISEASE OF NERVOUS SYSTEM.
DR.. Nesom Says it is Always AS
sociated With Mouidy Food,
Bad Water and UncleanIy
Surroundings.

DR.. Nesom, the State veterinarian
at Clemson College, is receiving so
many letters from various sections in
reference to staggerS that he has
found it impossible to answer them
all. The following letter will be Of
interest to many throughout the
State.
AS it is quite out Of the question
to give personal answers to all Of the.
letters received from citizens of South
Carolina and Georgia regarding a
horse disease commonly referred to as.
staggerS, I take this method Of say:
ing to those concerned that more and
more cases appear every week, and.
just at a season when horses and
mules are 50 much in demand for farm
work it becomes a serious question.
The losses in South Carolina from this
disease during the past year are esti-.
mated at about $4,000, and it is
prevalent in Maryland, Virginia.
North Carolina and Kansas. 7 had
diagnosed the disease as cerebro-spi-
nal meningitis nearly year ago, but
many of the diseases did not seem
typical Of this disease. have recent.
ly forwarded to the bureau Of animal
industry at Washington six Of the
brains taken from horses that had
died Of this disease. A partial report
has been received and the disease
proves to be cereoro-spinal meningitis.
or leucoencephalitiS.
This is disease Of the nervous SYST
TEN, affecting chiefly the brain and
its covering membranes. Most Of the:
brains taken out recently have been
congejted, some blood serum around
the brain. and in either the right or
left half Of the upper portion OF the
brain (cerebrum) there has been found
large area of degeHeration. This
cannot be seen on the surface, but II
the brain be cut open what appears
to be a large ulcer is found in the I
substance Of the brain. This is the
principal losion and is responsible for
most Of the i'll symptoms.
The symptoms are those Of nearly
all the other forms Of So-called stag
gers" and death generally follows in
one or two days if not very soon after
the disease is noticed. The cause OF
the disease is not well understood, blt5
is always associated with mouldy
food, bad water and unclean surround
ingS.
The remedy is to avoid the causes,
use only the best food, pure water
and keep the animals under the best
of conditions as to cleanliness. In
one case I saw where number OF
mules died, the only bad environment
I could find was that a lot OF rank
weeds had been moved down around
the barn and left there to decay dur
ing rainy spell of weather.
Medical treatment is almost uSeleSsS
as the losionS Of the brain have al
ready occurred when the symptoms
are noticed and cure is generally out
Of the question when so much Of the
brain has become decayed. Cold
shower baths to head. doses Of one
ounce Of chloral hydrate, one ounce
aloes, or for ounces Of whiskey, may
relieve the symptoms for while.
When the disease appears clean, dis
infect and whiteWash the barn, and
do not use stall where a horse has
died. If possible abandon lots and
barns for two or three months and
provide quarters elsewhere for all
horses kept on the place.
G. E. Nesom,
State Veterinarian.