The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-03-06
CAUSE @ OF 81 & GERS.
A ! Fatal Malady; Now Prevalent
Among the Horses. s337
DISEASE OF NERVOUS l. SYSTEM. j!
DR.. Nesom says it is Always AS.
l=ee.s.ee, VIII, Mon d aIsood
Bad Water ana UncleanIy
surroundings.
! Y si.l 9-I.-f So 49, ~

Dr. Nesom, the State yeterinariums
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
interesEs 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
horse disease commonly referred to as
staggers, take this method of say
ing to those concerned that more and
more cases appear every week, and
just at q season when horses and
mules are SO much in demand for farm
work 1T 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
|;preyalent in Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina and Kansas. 1 had
diagnosed the disease as cerebro-sp
nal meningitis nearly a year ago, but
many OF the diseases did not seem
typical of Jiis disease. I have recent
y forwarded to the bureau Of, animal
Industry at Washington six Of the
brains taken from horses that mad
died Of this disease. A partial report
has been received end the disease.
proves to be cerebro-spinal meningitis,
or leucoencephalitis. b #
This is disease of the nervous sys]
tenn, affecting chiefly the brain and
It's 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
q large area OF degeneration. This
cannot be seen on the surface, but il
the brain be cut open what appears
to be large ulcer is found in the
substance Of the. brain. This is the
principal losion and is responsible for
most of the ill 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 afterS
the disease is noticed. The causespf@
the disease is not,wellt und derst tood bntsI
isss always assoc Ella ed. .&wi tbla mould
fooa, bad wat ter and duncI lean SUR rounid B
ings. n
The remedy IS to avoid the causes,
use only the best food, pure water
and keep the animals under the best
CT conditions as to cleanliness. In
one case I saw where number Of 4
mules died, the only bad environment
/ could find was that lot of rank
weeds had, been moved down around
the barn and left there to decay dur
ing q rainy spell of weather.
Medical treatment is almost uSeleSsY
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 a while.
When the disease appears clean, dis
infect and whitewash the barn, and
do not use stall where horse has
died. II 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.