The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-28
70 ALL CATTLE BREEDERS.
State Veterinarian Neson Answers
inquiries as TO ''BIind Stag
ners, and nTexas Fever"

10 Cne EOltOF OF 1uo NEWS dIo
# you will allow me space I will
answer few of the many inquiries
which are reaching this Office from
many parts of the State:
First. There has been prevalent all
over South Carolina and parts of
Georgia for the past year disease Of
horses which is commonly referred to
as ''blind staggers." In some cases
the horses are taken with symptoms OF
colo, but, if they do not die at once,
apparently recover, Only to develop
some form of paralysis at later
date.
One gentleman who has lost abont
twenty good mules says that he some
times finds one of his mules down in
the stall in the morning, but when
it is assisted to rise it will eat and do
days work n harness. Later they
show tendency to fatigue and in bad
cases appear belloWsed. Some have
great difficulty in breathing and with
every breath there is a rasping sound
that can be heard fifty yards. When
in this condition they are unable to
work, become exhausted and fall as if
they had choked down, sometimes
bleeding from the mouth and breath
ing very hard Many have become
aspbyxiated and died in this condi-
ton.
In other cases the first symptoms
noted are those Of paralysis and the
horse is unable to use his hind legs.
In other cases there is first noted q
great, difficulty IN breathing. Recent
" a number of cases have been re-
ported as occurring in the early morn
ing, while the horses are IN stable
They are heard plU2ging against the
walls and are found to be perfectly
wild and zunma1ageable. Later they
become quiet, stand as if asleep,
finally lie down. become unconscious
and often die withouta struggle inside
of two or three hours after first
taken.
One man writing from Georgia says
while they are in the excited stage
they try to climb into the loft and will
bite at anything in the way, even
their own legs, like a mad dog. Tn
fortunately [ have seen but one of the
cases and failed to diagnose the dis
ease. l now ask that all who have
had experience with any disease Of
horses with these symptoms write me,
giving me full particulars, as it has
already killed over fifty head Of horses
and | am very anxious to find its
true nature and remedy.
Second Texas fever has prevailed
among the cattle in the feed pens in
many parts of the State up to the first
week in January, when | saw the last
case reported to this Office. This is
very unusual, as the disease generally
ceases with the first frost, which stops
the activity of the ticks. The longer
prevalence this year is no doubt due
to the warm fall and early winter,
which has favored the ticks in devel
opment. | fear there will be more
ticks on cattle the coming year than
for many years past, as they will have
less cold to contend with this winter.
All who are feeding cattle from north
of the quarantine lein, including all of
Western North Carolina and Eastern
Tennessee, are advisd to feed them
out and sell them before the ticks
begin to hatch in March and April,
if they do not care to sustain further
losses.
Third. 1 do not recommend any
particular breed of cattle, but prefer
that each man decide that for himself
and buy to his own notion. will cheer
fully cooperate with any citizen in
getting the cattle of his choice and
inoculate them when shipped here if
he SO desires.
Fourth There are a number Of good
live stock papers, but possibly the best
all-round paper for all classes of breed
ers is the Breeders Gazette, Chicago.
1t is 6fty-six-page. weekly, of a
high order, regular price s2 year,
but by special arrangement we can
send subscriptions from the College at
81. Make money order for 81 payable
to Breeders Gazette, Chicago, and
send to me. / will forward it free of
any charge and furnish postage
G.. +. Nesom,
State Veterinarian.
Clemson College, January 20.