The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-02-20
FORAGE POISON
Is MOST FATAL
State Veterinarian Gives Some In
formation.

/ lOIHlduOu.
The disastrous effect OF the recent
outbreak Of leuco encephallitis forage
poison) in Maury County calls for a
word or two of explanation and eau
ton. More than twenty horses and
mules died of the poison on one farm
in that county. Forage poison, accord
ing to DR.. Geo. r. White, State Yeter-
marion, is a disease called by the in
gestion Of mouldy or decomposed feed,
which affects the brain substance in
such manner as to actually cause de-
generation of the cells OF the brain. 1t
has been especially prevalent in Ten
nessee during last fall and this winter.
Speaking of the disease DR.. White said
Its origin or cause has in most in
stances been traced to bad corn and
had. Several farmers have lost as many
as four, six and eight head OF horses
and mules this season from feeding un-
sound or damaged corn. Ensilage is
an exceedingly unsafe feed simply on
account of its tendency to mould, de-
compose and sour, in which condition
it readily causes blind staggers. re-
call one instance few years ago where
farmer in Middle Tennessee was pre-
pairing twenty-four mules for market;
Ignorant Of the danger OF feeding ensi-
lage to horses and mules, or unthought-
eddy he gave them bushel basket half
full as a supper ration. When the owner
went to the barn the next morning he
found eight of these mules already dead
and the remainder fatally sick from
forage poison. Another extensive out
break of blind staggers' which came
under the writer's notice was readily
traced bach to the inferior grade of clover
hay which was being fed to them. In
Nashville no longer than last week, a
man in very modest financial circum-
stances had the misfortune to lose three
horses and one mule from blind stag
gers, caused by feeding decomposed
hay which had been ricked' in the
field for two years.
Blind staggers' is the one disease
which is easier to prevent than it is to
cure, hence stockmen should take notice
from other losers and carefully inspect
tho ration allowed. II found faulty,
by all means reject it. However, have
no hesitancy in saying that nine-tenths
OF the cases which have come under my
observation were caused by feeding in
ferior corn. | have found the average
livestock owner slow to believe that the
feed is the real, in fact only, cause OF
deaths from this character OF disease.
They oftentimes refuse to believe it,
even when told by qualified veteri-
nary surgeon. Leuco encephallitis is one
OF the most fatal OF all animal diseases.
1t is even more fatal than that much
dreaded disease tetanus Clock jaw.
The most frequent symptoms OBJ
served is inability to swallow, although |
mouth contains food; staggering gait,
impaired vision resulting in many in
stances in total blindness; twitching and
contraction of the voluntary muscles.
Temperature usually normal or SUBJ
normal. Later the animals may be-
come restless, delirious, paralyzed and
unable to stand quietly, resulting in
coma and death, usu-
ally from exhaustion. Death in most
instances takes place within thirty-six
hours after the onset OF the first symp-
toms. Whenever one horse in a stable
develops blind staggers' all the other
animals should be removed or the stable
cleaned by removing every
vestige Of grain and forage. A COM
plete change OF diet is absolutely neces-
sary, as it is impossible to definitely de-
termine what particular part OF the feed
is responsible for the disease. Where
the disease has developed in horses and
mules j have always found it safe to
Iced the rejected hay, corn or ensilage
20 cattle. F"
The twelfth Bryan peace treaty, that
the United States and Cost
Rica, has been signed.
CLAIM GRnNT