The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-10-07
Blind STAGGERS
AGAIN MAKES ITS APPEARANCE
IN THIS STATE.

DR.. Powers, State Veterinarian, Gives
Some Advice as to Curing Animals
Affected With the Disease.
The fatal disease Of horses COM
monty called "staggers" has again
made 1t appearance in this State,
cases being reported in Barnwell and
Hampton counties. No cases have
been reported in Greenville county |
This disease has appeared sporadi- |
cally in South Carolina for many
years, but no serious outbreak oc- |
Cured until the epidemic Of 1901
and 1902.
During the fall OF 1901 few
cases were reported in Lancaster
county, and in January 1902, it again
broke out in Orangeburg county.
During the following six months
losses were reported in Anderson,
Pickens, Oconee, Spartanburg, Che
okee, Greenwood, Orangeburg, Barn
we'll and Barkeley counties. At that
time it was estimated that the losses
during this short period greatly ex-
ceeded $4,000.
After this severe outbreak, no
cases were reported until 1905,
when the disease was again reported
in Hampton, Marion, York, Pickens
and Oconee counties. Outbreaks Of
the disease were also reported In
Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey,
Georgia, Louisiana and Kansas du-
ring the same seasons.
/ Leuco Eucephalitis is the proper
name for this disease, although 1t is
also called Cebro Spinal Meningitis
in many localities. The exact cause
is as yet unknown, despite the 1nTes-
LEGATIONS Of many prominent scient-
lists. It has been attributed to micro
organisms, poisonous plants, impure
water, mouldy feed, etc. One 1nves-
tigator has prodrced these symp-
toms by feeding damaged grain con-
tanning fungus, the spores OF which
: enter the circulation and set up
, Inflammation and often ASSESSES OF
!. the brain.
State Veterinarian Powers OF
. Clemson, in talking Of the disease
said:
, "Mules are seldom attacked; IN
fact, have never seen one so al
fected although some cases have
: been reported. In all cases inVes
+ tigated by me, I have found lesion:
I, Of the brain. In many instances
: there has been softening and De
generation of large areas Of the brair
tissues, while in others there ha:
been severe congestion Of the bloc:
! vessels and meninges Of the brain.
i "The symptoms are similar It
! those observed in nearly all othel
: forms Of so-called staggers, VIZ: ouli
f ness. delirium, in-co-ordinat1on, etc
Death usually occurs within one q
. two days, and the few animals tina
!. recover are of little value, owing Il
: the changes in the nervous system
every effort should be made t;
, check the spread Of the disease
unon it's appearance, all other horses
i. should be removed from the stable
and the entire stable should bt
thoroughly cleaned, disinfected art
obandoned for two or three montns
Complete change Of water and fee
! is Of the utmost importance, since
many authorities believe that dis
. eased hay or grain or impure Wat:'
[ is the cause Of this disease. In pas
outbreaks we have notice. lat M
o new cases developed after these pre-
cautions were observed.
Medical treatment is most un
satisfactory, as animals die so sud
!, denly after the symptoms develop
: Upon appearance of the first syn1p
| toms, severe purgatiTes should u
Immediately given, OF. Of Aloe:
with 2 drams Ext: of Belladonn'
!, being very satisfactory for this pu'
pose. The administration OF drug:
is often impossible. owing to tut
delirum of the horse, but purgatiV
can be given hypodermically. When
ever competent Veterinarian car
be procured, he should be called In
, mediately, as treatment IS very un'
satisfactory and practically useless
after the symptoms are well deVel'
oped.
IF the animal can be handled, tie
following drench may prove OF scn1e
, value:
Fowler's Sol Arsenic.
Phenacetin, drams.
Strychnin Soluh, IL grain.
Aquae, 4 OF
Sig: Give this drench three times
daily.
The bodies Of all affected animals
should be opened and the organs,
especially the brain, carefully ex-
amined The appearance Of this dis
ease, together with report Of the
post mortem examination, should be
forwarded to this Office. All pos
sibie advice and assistance will be