Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-09-18
MOLD Chief CAUSE
Of FORAGE POISON
EPIDEMIC
Federal Bureau Of Animal In.
dustry Issues Instructions
on How to Treat Meningitis
Among Stock.

AAANeAA ~NNNs
especial CoYssspOsaeaee ~ ahe Hsralal |
Washington. ID. G.. Sept. t7.--Dur-
Ing the last five menths numerous
reports have been received ~ che
Bureau OF Animal Industry relAfiyo
to tho existence OF forage poisoning II /
various sections Of the United states,
particularly ia Louisiana. West Viz
ginIa, Kansas and Nebraska Il has
usually occurred when "A hot. dry
period has been followed by rains, or
during wc7 seasons especially those
which are characterized by frequent
rains alternating with hot sunshine.
producing a damp. sultry atmosphere.
Such conditions are most favorable
10 the production of molda. and all
outbreaks that have been investigated
by the burcau have been traced 90
the eating of unsOund or moldy forage
OF feed or TO the drinking OF water
from wells OF pools containing sur
face water drained through decom-
posed and moldy vegetation. Tho
discuss has been shown 10 be also
due 20 eating damaged cnsilaEc, hay.
HoTaes and mules az pawufc may
contract the disease when the growth
81 grass Is ~ profuso that It mats toe
sether and the lower part dies and
fermeuts or becomes mOldy No spc.
citic organism or VirIs has vet bceh
found VhiSh can b. considered 8s tho
cause Ut this disease.
How the Disease MAY bc ISecogniIcd
The so-called cercro. spinal menin-
gitls Of horses being an entirely dif-
fetent' disease from that which oc-
ours In man. tho symptoms as well
a. the cause are distinctly different.
In the most rapid'y fatal attacks
death takcs place IN from five to
forty eight hours. Such cases begin
with violent trembling or Aupor and
extreme weakness, or with staggering
gait. partial or total inability Co swal-
low. impairment Of oyssight. follow
ed by partial or complete paralysis.
inability 10 stand. with marked de-
lirium. during which thc animal lying
flat on It's side becomes violent and
knocks and bruises ~ head la the
second form OF the disease the Same
line OF symptoms may be noticed in
q mildcF degree. DIFFICULTY In sWai.
lowing sloWness In chewing the food
and inability 20 switch the tail are
observed. Breathing becomes heavy
ana noisy, and dollrium r1ay develop
with stiffness OF the spinal muscles OF
partial Cramp Vt tho neck and jaws.
Death occurs in from six 10 ten days
IN tho last or miidcst form the lack
OF voluntary control Of thu limbs be-
comes but slightly marked the power
OF swallowing never entirely lost, and
the animal haH no fever, pain or un.
conscious movements IN those o,isc3
which get well the animal generally
begins To improve about the fourth
day and goes on 10 recovery. one az.
tack does not protect against see
ond eltacR. as horses ana mulcs have
been known TO have the disease tRO
or three times.
How the Disease May bc Prevented
ana Treated.
The first principle IA tho treatment
Of this disease consists In total
change OF feed aud forage Horses
kept IN the stable should be fed with
sound forage and grain from an un.
cont minated source, even II such
feed has TO be brought from a dis.
lance Horses that have become az.
tocted while at pasture should be re
NOTED from the field la which they
have been running The animals
should be brought 10 the barn or
corral and fed on wholesome and
clean feed and forage. The water,
unicss from on unPollulcd source.
should likewise DO changed
~ present this preventive treat.
mcnt Is tho only satisfactory method
! known for checking the disease, as aIl
medicinal remedies used have been
unsatisfactory In the vast majority uf
cases The flrn step Is 90 cmpty the
! bowels and remove the poisonous
products. but on account OF the difn-
| Guilty Ia swallowing. an aloCs ball or
GiaubeT's salt o. hard TO give. In
fact no remedy should bc given by
the mouth II the throat Is paraiysod.
as pneumonia Is liable TO- result FIT.
teen grains or barium chloride In
u ted into the iugular vein. or two
grains OF cSerin under the skin, II tho
| animal IL not too greatly depressed.
VIII usually act promptly. Intestinal
! disinfcctants. such az CalOmel. salt
| cyliC acid and CrCOlin are also used
u much weakness Is shown and tho
temperature Us below normal give
aromatic spirits % ammonia, digtaiis
| alcohol. ether. or Camphor Rectal
injections OF warm water are g0Od
and warm blankets Wrung out Of no,
water may also be applied 10 the
body. Subsequent treatment should
consist OF tWo-grain doses OF strichnln
twice daily, or mixture OF two
| drains tincture nuX vomicn Und one
halt ounce OF Fowlcr's solution given
at one dose, and repeated three tio.cs
daily, TO combat the effect OF the pol.
son upon the nervous system.