Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-10-05
HORSE DISEASE
Due to Green Fodder, Some Prevent
atives Named--The Cause Of
The Disease.

Tne D1SeaSe.
During the last Eve months numerous
reports have been received by the Bu-
reau of Animal Industry relative to the
existence offorage poisoning in various
sections Of the United States, particular
ly in Louisiana, West Virginia, Kansas,
and Nebraska. 1t has usually occurred
when hot, dry period has been follow
ed by rains, or during wet seasons, ss-
pecially those which are characterized
by frequent rains alternating with hot
sunshine, producing damp sultry at
mosphere.
Such conditions are most favorable to
the production Of molds, and all out
breaks that have been Investigated by
the Bureau have been traced to the eat
ing Of unsound or moldy forage or feed,
or to the drinking of water from wells
or pools containing surface water drain
cd through decomposed and moldy
vegetation. The disease has been shown
to be also due to eating damaged en-
silage, hay, corn, brewers grains, oats,
etc.
Horses and mules at pasture may con-
tract the disease when the growth Of
grass is 80 profuse that 1t mats together
and the lower part dies and forments or
becomes moldy. No specific organism
or virus has yet been found which can
be considered as the cause of this dis
ease.
How Disease May be Recognised.
The so-called cerebro.spinal men.
ingitia Of horses being an entirely diff
ferent disease from that which occurs in
man, the symptoms as we'll as the cause
are distinctly different. In the most
rapidly fatal attacks death takes placs in
from to 48 hours. Such cases being
with violent trembling or stupor and ex-
treme weakness, or with staggering gait,
partial or total inability to swallow, i'm
pairment of eyesight, followed by partial
or complete paralysis, inability to stand,
with marked delirium, during which the
animal lying fat on it's side becomes
violent and knocks and bruises its head.
The Second Term.
In the second form of the disease the
same line of symptoms may be noticed
In milder degree. Difficulty in swal-
lowing. slowness in chewing the food
and inability to switch the tail are OBJ
served. Breathing becomes heavy and
noisy, and delirium may develop with
stiffness of the spinal muscles or partial
cramp of the neck and jaws. Death oc-
ours in from 6 to 10 days.
In the last or mildest form the lack of
voluntary control of the limbs becomes
but slightly marked, the power of swal-
lowing never entirely lost, and the ami
NAL has no fever, pain or unconscious
movements. In those cases which get
well the animal generally begins to
improve about the fourth day and goes
on to recovery. One attack does not
protect against second attack, as horses
and mules have been known to have the
disease two or three times.
How the Disease May be Prevented and
| Treated.
The first principle in the treatment o.
this disease consists in total change o.
feed and forage. Horses kept in the
stable should be fed with sound forage
and grain from an uncontaminatec
source, even If such feed has to b,
brought from distance. Horses tha
have become affected while at pastur,
should be removed from the field il
which they have been running. TIL,
animals should be brought to the barr
or corral and fed on wholesome anS
clean feed and forage. The water, un
less from an unpolluted source, shoulc
likewise be changed.
At present this preventive treatmen
is the only satisfactory method known
for checking the disease, as all medicin
al remedies used have been unsatisfac
tory in the vast majority of cases. Tn
first step is to empty the bowels and re
move the poisonous products, but oI
account of the difficulty in swallowing
an aloes ball or GIauber's salt is hard :
give. In fact no remedy should be give
by the mouth If the throat is paralyzet
as pneumonia is liable to result.
Remedial Agents.
Fifteen grains of barium chloride in
jected into the jugular vein, or grain
of eserin under the skin, If the animal
not too greatly depressed, will usual
act promptly. Intestinal disinfectanl
such as calomel, salicyllic, acid, an
creolin are also used. II much veal
ness is shown and the temperature
below normal give acromatc spirits {
ammonia, digitalis, alcohol, either, {
camphor.
Rectal injections of warm water al
good, and warm blankets wrung out {
hot water may also be applied to th
body. Subsequent treatment shoul
consist of 2-grain doses of strychnin
twice daily, or mixture of dram
. tincture nux vomica and one-half ounc
of Fowler's solution given at one dos
1 and repeated three times daily, to con
: bat the effect Of the poison upon th
nervous system.