Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-09-27
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis of Horses

D merous reports have been received
" by the bureau of animal industry
relative to the existence of forage
poisoning in various sections of the
United States, particularly in Louisi-
ana. West Virginia, Kansas and Me-
t braska. 1t has usually occurred
when a hot, dry period has been fol-
lowed by rains, or during wet sea-
sons, especially those which are char
f acteried by frequent rains alternat-
ing with hot sunshine, producing a
damp sultry atmosphere. Such con-
ditions are most favorable to the
production of molds, and all out
= breaks that have been investigated
by the bureau have been traced to
the eating of unsound or moldy for
age or feed, or to the drinking of
water from wells or pools containing
surface water drained through de-
composed 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 profuse that it
mats together and the lower part
dies and ferments or becomes moldy.
No specific organism or virus has yet
been found which can be considered
as the cause of this disease.
The so-called cerebro-spinal men
nights of horses being an entirely
different disease from that which &C.
ours in man, the symptoms as well
as the cause are distinctly different.
In the most rapidly fatal attacks
death takes place in from five to 4S
hours. Such cases begin with VIC
IRENE weakness, or with staggering
gait, partial or total inability 20
swallow, impairment of eyesight, fol-
lowed by partial or complete paraly-
Sis inability to stand, with marked
delirium, during which the animal
lying flat on its side becomes violent
and knocks and bruises its head, In
the second form of the disease the
same line of symptoms may be no.
ticed in a milder degree, Difficulty
in swallowing, slowness in chewing
the food and inability to switch the
tail are observed. Breathing be-
comes heavy and noisy. and delirium
may develop with stiffness of the
spinal muscles or partial cramp of
the neck and jaws. Death occurs in
from six 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
animal has no fever, pain, or uncon-
scious movements. In those cases
which get we'll the animal generally
begins to improve about the fourth
day and goes on to recovery. One
attack does not protect against an
other, as horses and mules have been
known to have the disease two or
three times.
The first principle in the treat
ment 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 uncontaminated source
even If 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 to
the barn or corral and fed on whole
some and clean feed and forage The
water, unless from an unpolluted
source, should likewise be changed.
At present this preventive treat
ment is the only satisfactory method
known for checking the disease, as
all medicinal remedies used have
been unsatisfactory in the vast ma
jority of cases. The first step is to
empty the bowels and remove the
poisonous products, but on account
of the difficulty in swallowing, an
aloes ball or Glauber's salt Is hard
to give. In fact, no remedy should
be given by the mouth if the throat
is paralyzed, as pneumonia is liable
to result. Fifteen grains of barium
chloride injected into the jugular
vein, or two grains of eserin under
the skin, if the animal is not toe
greatly depressed, will usually act
promptly. Intestinal disinfectants
such as calomel salicylic acid and
ereolin are also used II much weak