The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-03-12
A new DISEASE AMONG
WESTERN HORSES.

WESlEkN NURSES.
Most of the supposedly new diseases in.
cident to animals are simply old diseases
that have for some unknown reason
becoIie more virulent, thus attract
ing more interest and warranting speci-
al investigation, Chambers in horses and
anthrax in all warm blooded animals, in
Guiding man. is as old as the record his
tory of domesticat ed animals.
The lower animals are afflicted with as
varied and as deadly disease as human
beings. All over the western states
here is disease Of horses that, unit il
the last tive years, had never been of
sufficient Importance to attract special
attention. 1t has now become serious
problem. We have no appropriate name
for the disease, neither do we know
what causes it, but we do know all ami.
mails getting it will die. The disease
greatly resembles the dreaded Surra,
which has decimated the equine species
Of the Philippine Islands. In the absence
Of better name we will call the disease
Swamp Fever. At the present time the
disease exists in western Kansas, Neb-
raska, and more or less generally over
western America. The provincial gov
ernment of Canada has appropriated
large sum of money and appointed ex-
perts to investigate 9 the nature of the
malady. The state of Nebraska has
made similar appropriation. Here are
the symptoms; note them carefully. be
cause 1t does not matter whether your
horse is thoroughbred or an illbred
work horse. he is equally susceptible:
The horse does not seem to possess his
usual vigor tires easely; is seen stand
ing around yawning like tird person.
One day he will have high fever and
refuse food the next day he appears t o
be normal The mucous membrane Of
the mouth and the nose is pallid, with
little red spots, which are characteristic
Of the disease. There isa excess Of urine
which indicates destructive metab OIL
ism From this on the animal grad ually
grows weaker; the legs swell little to-
ward the last he staggers around few
days longer and dies in delirium. The
disease may last from three weeks to-
eight months, and always proves fatal
As for treatment, there is none. All
remedial measures have failed. Every
thing in connection with this disease
points to the probable presence Of a
blood organism, although this has not
yet been discovered. 1t is probable that
the disease is largely located in the in
testinal tract. As the disease progresses
the red blood cells are often reduced to
Q, 900. 900 FER C. b. Its close resemblance
to the dreaded disease. Surra, of the
Philippines. and further, knowing it to
be deadly and on the increase. has cause
ed it to become matter for consider
alton on the part of those who are in
formed as to its true nature. 1t is, at
least. a strange and unuusal thing to find
disease. whose habitat is in the marshy
district of the lower attitudes. in the
arid plains of the high attitudes. This
disease is in need of investigation. In
the meantime rememb er these symp,
toms and send probable cases to the Colo
RADIO Experiment Station. We are going
to try to do some work with this dis
easeduring the summer months.
GEORGE H. GLOVER,
Professor of Veterinary Science, Colo
RADIO Agricultural College. Fort Collins.