The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-04
BLIND STAGGERS.
The State Veterinarian g Ives Some
Valuable lnf0rmAtlon m 20 the

Valuable Infsrmaiion m 20 she
Disease.
Clemson, Feb. 25.-Dr. Nesom, the
State veterinarian, il receiving 30 ma-
nv letters from various sections In ref
erence to stsggers that he has found II
impossible to answer them all. The
following letter will be Of interest to
many throughout the State:
AS Il II quite out OF the question Ia
give personal answers to all Of the let
ters received from citizens Of South
Carolina and Georgia regarding q
horse disease commonly referred to as
staggers, take this method of saying
to those concerned that more and
more cases appear every week, and
lust st o season when horses and
mules are so much in demand for farm
work It becomes serious question.
The losses in South Carolina from
this disease during the past year are
estimated at about $4,000. and 1t IL
prevalent In Maryland, Virginia.
North Carolina aud Kansas. I had d.
agnosed the disease as cerebro-spinal
meningitis nearly year ago, but ma.
ny of the diseases did not seem typical
Of this disease. / have recently forward
ell to the bureau of animal industry at
Washington six Of the brains taken
from horses that died of this disease. A
partial report has been received and
the disease proves to be cerebro-spinas
meningitis or leuc0encephalitis.
This is o disease Of the nervous sys-
tenn, affecting chiefly the brain and
Its covering membranes. Most Of the
brains taken out recently have been
congested, 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 Q large area Of degenera-
ton. This cannot be seen on the sur
face, but II the brain be cut open what
appears to be q large ulcer is found In
the substance of the brain. This Is
the principal lesion and Is responsible
for most Of the Ill symptoms.
The symptoms are those OF nearly
all the other forms Of sO-called "stas
GERS" and death generally follows In
one or two days II not very soon after
the disease IL noticed. The cause OF
the disease Ii not well understood; but
Ii always associated with mouldy
food, bad water and unclean surround
ings.
The remedy Is tn 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 q number Of mules
died, the only bad environment I
could find was that q lot Of rank
weeds had been moved down around
the barn and left there 10 decay dur
ing q rainy spell Of weather.
Medical treatment Ia almost useless,
lesions of the brain have already oe-
cured when the symptoms are noticed
and cure Is generally out Of the ques-
ton 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 four
ounces Of whiskey, may relieve the
symptoms for q while. When the dis
ea.e appears, clean, disinfect and
whitewash the barns and do not use
q stall where horse has died. II pos
sible 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