The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-20
PELLAGRA AND BLIND STAG
GERS.
Is is Argued by Some That There is
Relationship Between the Two
Diseases, the One Of Man
kind, the Other of
Horses.

ct!t!h II ilttulD!''. t!!t uI''~i i!i''t N'>t-
ing paper. perhaps. was that by DR..
n. RAY Powers Of Clemson college.
the State veterinarian. who suspects
a relationship between, pellagra n
human patients and blind sta@@erS III
animals. His paper caused mNe!l
comment. The subject WAS ''Th;-
Srln,"*~l Relationship e: Nama"."'
Grain - E.:,;x,s3:;" Ec."'.:"-S:2;';.!
Mor!:n2:;i< of Horses. :
Tie napcr itself is - f,i!owS:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen:
II viii cnj7cavor - give a brief
history and description of this fata!
disease Of horses which is of common
occurrence in this State during wet
seasons.
''Dr. Large of New York first re-
ported this dease in America in 1850.
In 1852 and 1865 it appeared in Den
mark and Germany and a very SER
ious outbreak was reported in Egypt
in 1876, where about 5000 horses,
mules, and asses perished in the Vi
cinity Of Cairo alone.
"Since its first appearance in this
country numerous outbreaks ave
been reported at frequent intervals.
An outbreak occurred in Virginia and
North Carolina in 1886 and assumed
such proportion that the citizens Of
these States appealed to the United
States department of agriculture for
aid. In response to this appeal, DR..
W. II. Harbaugh Of the bureau of ami
nal industry was detailed to make an
investigation and his report was
published in the third annual report
Of that bureau. Another serious out
break occurred in Kansas in 1901 and
was investigated by DR.. Mayo Of the
Kansas agricultural experiment sta
ton. The result Of his investigation
was published in bulletin No. "a of
that station.
''Frequent outbreaks Of this dis
ease have since been reported in New
Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Louisiana, and other Southern States.
In fact, this disease now occurs al
most every year in different portions
of the United States and its appear
ance is now expected after rainy sea-
sons similar to those of 1901 and
1906, when molds and fungi thrive on
fodder and grain.
''The records of this Office show
that in 1901 this disease appeared in
at least nine counties Of this State
and caused loss which was estimated
as exceeding $4,000. Following the
wet summer Of 1906, the disease again
appeared, and, Judging from the cases
already reported, we may expect an
other serious outbreak this winter.
"Severe losses occurred in other
Southern States during these same
years and DR.. R. W. Mickman Of the
bureau of animal industry spent con-
siderable time investigating an out
break in North Carolina. His report
is now available as circular l22 Of
that bureau.
Occurrence
"This disease does not seem to be
confined to any particular locality, as
it has appeared in the upper portions
Of the State, as well as in the lower
country. We must admit, however,
that outbreaks are more frequent in
the low, flat country than in the hilly
portions of the State. Horses are
more frequently attacked than mules,
in fact, I have never had opportunity
to see mule so affected, although the
loss Of a few mules has been reported
to this Office.
"Cases occasionally appear spor-
adically, although more frequently
the disease extends over large area,
hence the name, 'epizootic cerebro-
spinal meningitis It is rare, how
ever, for this disease to attack all the
horses on one plantation.
Cause.
"While many theories have been
advanced as to the causative agent,
we are compelled to admit that the
specific cause is unknown. The cause
has been attributed to almost every
thing from unsanitary condition Of