Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-10-07
"BLIND STAGGERs."
Outbreak of Fatal Disease Among
Horses i'm Lower Part of State.

The fatal disease Of horses COM
monty called "staggers" has again
made Its appearance in this State,
cases having been reported in Barn
we'll and Hampton counties. This
disease has appeared sporadically in
South Carolina 70 rmany years, but
no serious outbreak occurred until
the epidemic Of 1901-1902.
During the fall Of 1901 few cases
were reporter 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, Oco-
nee. Spartanhurg, Cherokee, Green
wood, Orangeburg, Barnwell and
Berkeley counties. At that time 1t
was estimated that the losses during
this short period greatly exceeded
$4,000.
After this severe outbreak no
cases were reported until 1908, when
the disease was again reported in
Hampton, Marion, York, Pickens and
Oconee counties. Outbreaks of the
disease were also reported in Vir-
ginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Geor-
gia and Louisiana and Kansas dur
Ing the same seasons.
Leuco encephalitis Is the proper
name Of this disease, although 1t Is
also called cerebro spinal meningitis
in many localities. The exact cause
is as yet unknown, despite the inves-
LEGATIONS of many prominent scien-
lists. 1t has been attributed to micro
organisms, poisonous plants, impure
water, mouldy feed, etc. One investi-
gator has produced these symptoms
by feeding damaged grain containing
Fungus, the spores Of which enter
the circulation and set up inflamma-
tion and often abscess Of the brain.
Mules are seldom attacked, in fact
1 nave never seen one so affected, al
though some cases have been report
ed. In all cases investigated by me
l have found LESSONS of the brain. In
many instances there has been soft
ening and degeneration of large areas
of the brain tissue while in others
there has been severe congestion of
the blood vessels and meninges of
the brain.
The symptoms are similar to those
observed In nearly all other forms of
so-called staggers, viz: dullness. de-
lirlum, incoordination, etc. Death
usually occurs within one or two
days, and the few animals that re.
cover are of little value, owing to
the changes in the nervous system.
Every effort should be made to
check the spread of the disease.
Upon its appearance, all other horses
should be removed from the stable,
and the entire stable should be thor
oughly cleansed, disinfected, and
abandoned for two or three months.
Complete change of water and feed
Is of the utmost Importance, since
many authorities believe that dis
eased hay or grain or impure water,
rs the cause of this disease. In past
outbreaks we have noticed that no
new cases developed after these pre-
cautions were observed.
Medicinal treatment is most un-
satisfactory, as animals die so sud-
denly after the symptoms develop.
upon appearance of the first symp-
tom, severe purgatives should be i'm
media.ely given, one ounce Of aloes
with two drams extract Of belladonna
being very satisfactory for this pur-
pose. The administration Of drugs
is often impossible, owing to the de-
lirium of the horse, but purgatives
can be given hypodermically. When
ever a competent veterinarian can be
procured he should be called imme-
diately, as treatment is very unsatis-
factory-practically useless after the
symptoms are well developed.
If the animal can be handled, the
following drench may prove Of some
value:
Fowler's solution arsenic, phenace-
tin, a 2 drams, strychnine sulph. ~
grain, aquae 4 ounces.
Sig: Give this drench three times
daily. The bodies of all affected ami
mails should be opened and the or
gans, Especially the brain,) care
fully examined. The appearance of
this disease, together with report of
post mortem examinations, should be
forwarded to this office. All possible
advice and assistance will be fur
nished to assist in control of this out
break. NJ Ray Powers,
State Veterinarian.
Clemson College, S. c.