The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-09-26
NO DANGER OF
HORSE EPIDEMIC
is THE OPINION OF DR.. e. l..
MOORE. OF THE STATE
COLLEGE.
DISEASE APPEARS SOUTH OF HERE
Along the Nebraska Line, But There is
Little Probability of Outbreak
symptoms and the Cure.

There has been considerable anxiety
among the farmers Of this county for
fear that the horse epidemic, so pre-
valent in Nebraska and other states
south of here would soon reach this
section. However, DR.. +. l.. Moore,
head Of the veterinary department Of
the State College, informs us that in
his opinion there is little probability
Of its coming this far north. The dis
ease, which first appeared in Kansas,
has been spreading rapidly, though,
and some few cases have appeared in
the southern part Of the state and it
may of course, reach here. The State
Livestock Sanitary Board, so DR.,
Moore tells us, is watching the situa-
ton closely and is taking every
means to stamp it out. The govern
ment bureau of animal industry has
issued the following bulletin:
1T has usually occurred when a
hot, dry period has been followed by
rains, or during wet seasons, especial
ly those which arc characterized by
frequent rains alternating with hot
sunshine, producing a damp sultry at
mosphere, Such conditions are most
favorable to the production of molds,
and all outbreaks that have been in
v~estigated by the bureau have been
moldy forage or feed. OF to the drink
ing Of water from wells or pools con.
tanning surface ate drained through
decomposed and moldy vegetation.
The disease has been shown to- be Also
due to eating damaged ensilage, hay,
corn, brewers grains, oats, etc. Horses
and mules at pasture may contract
the disease when the growth of grass
is so p~rofuse that ii mats together
and the lower part dies and ferments
or becomes moldy. No specific or
ganism or virus has yet been found
which can be considered as the cause
of this disease.
The so-called cerebro-spinal men
ingities Of horses being an entirely
different disease from that which oc-
ours in man, the symptoms as well as
the cause are distinctly different. in
tho most rapidly fatal attacks death
takes place in from ; to As hours. Such
cases begin with violent trembling or
stupor and extreme weakness, or with
staggering gait, partial or total i'm
ability to swallow, impairment Of eye
sight, followed by partial or comp'ete
paralysis, inability to stand, with
marked delirium, during which the
animal lying fiat on its side becomes
violent AID knocks ard bruises is
head. II the second form Of the dis
ease the same line Of symptoms may
be noticed in a milder degree. Dit
Guilty in swallowing, SlOwncs5 in chew
ing the food and inability TO switch
the tail arc observed. Breathing be
comes heavy and noisy, and delirium
may develop with stiffness of tie
spinal muscles or partial cramp Of the
neck and Jaws. Death occurs in from
six to ten days. In the last or mildest
form the lack of voluntary control Of
the limbs becomes but slightly mark
ed, the power Of swallowing et-
tirely lost, and the animal has no
fever. pain, or unconscious movements
In those cases which get well the an,
nal generally begins to improve
about the fourth day and goes on 10
recovery. One attack does not pro
tect against a second attack, as horses
and mules have been known TO have
the disease two or three times.
The first principle in the treatment
Of this disease consists in a total
change OF feed and forage. Horses
kept in the stable should be fed with
sound forage and grain from an IN
contaminated source, even IL such
feed has to be brought from a distance.
Horses that have become affected
while at pasture should be removed
from the field in which they have been
running. The animals should be
brought 10 the barn or coral and fed
on wholesome and clean feed and
forage. The water, unless from an W.
polluted source, should likewise be
changed. At present this preventive
treatment b the only satisfactory
method known for checking the dis
ease. as all medical remedies used
have been unsatisfactory in the vast
majority Of cases"