Milford chronicle., 1912-09-20
FORAGE POISONING.

During the last five months numerous
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 Louisiana, West Virginia,
/ Kansas, and Nebraska 1t has usually
occurred when hot, dry period has
been followed by rains, or during wet
seasons, especially those which are
characterized by frequent rains alternat-
ing with hot sunshine. producing a
damp sultry atmosphere. Such condi-
tions are most favorable to the pro-
duction of molds, and all outbreaks
that have been investigated by the
Bureau have been tracted to the eating
of unsound or moldy forage or feed, or
to the drinking of water from wells or
pools containing surface water drained
through decomposed and moldy vegeta-
ton. 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 con-
tract 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 menin-
gifts of horses begin an entirely differ
ent disease from that which occurs in
man, the symptoms as well as the cause
are distinctly different. In the most
rapidly fatal attacks death takes place
in from to As hours. Such cases be-
gin with violent trembling or stupor and
extreme weakness, or with staggering
gait. partial or total inability to swallow,
impairment of eyesight followed by
partial or complete paralysis, inability
to stand, with marked delirium, during
which the animal lying flat on its side
becomes violent and knocks and bruises
its heap. In the second form of the
disease the same line of symptoms may
be noticed in a milder degree. Diff
Guilty in swallowing, slowness in chew
ing the food and inability to switch the
tail are observed. Breathing becomes
heavy and noisy, and delirium may
develop with stiffness of the spinal
muscles or partial cramp of the neck
and laws. Death occurs in from to
10 days In the last or mildest form
the lack of voluntary control of the
limbs becomes but slightly marked, the
power of swallowing never entirely lost,
and the animal has no fever, pain, or
unconscious movements. In those cases
which get well the animal generally be-
gins to improve about the fourth day
and goes on to recovery. One attack
does not protect against a second at
tack, as horses and mules have been
known to have the disease two or three
times.
The first principle in the treatment
of this 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 be-
come 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 wholesome and clean feed and
forage. The water, unless from an un-
polluted source, should likewise be
changed.
At present this preventive treatment
is the only satisfactory method known
for checking the disease. as all medi-
cinal remedies used have been unsatis-
factory in the vast majority of cases.
The first step is to empty the bowels
and remove the poisonous products, but
on account of the difficulty in swallow
ing. 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 re-
suit. Fifteen grains of barium chlorid
injected into the jugular vein, or 2
grains of eserin under the skin, if the
animal is not too greatly depressed
will usually act promptly. Intestinal
disinfectant such as calomel, salicylic
acid. and creolin are also used. If much
weakness is shown and the temperature
is below normal give aromatic spirits
Of ammonia, digitals, alcohol, ether. or
camphor Rectal injections Of warm
water are good. and warm blankets
wrung out of hot water may also be
applied to the body Subsequent treat
ment should consist of 2-grain doses Of
strichnin twice daily, or a mixture of
2 drains tincture nuX vomica and one
half ounce of Fowler's solution given
at one dose, and repeated three times
daily, to combat the effect of the poison
upon the nervous system.