The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-02
DEPARTMENT TELLS
HOW TO CONTROL
BLIND STAGGERS
Valuable Information From
Experts of Agricultural Blu
reau on Widely Prevalent
Disease Among Horses.

past years horses have died hy the
thousands IN Teas, Iowa. Kansas aud
Nebraska from a disease affecting The
nervous system, popularity known ~
blind stnggers or forage poisoning.
The department Of agriculture has re-
ceivcd urgent requests for help aeain.t
THIS disease from 10 dineront states.
and as a result Il is now publishing a
bulletin containing definite lnstruc-
lions for combating this disease.
The states that appealed 60 the do
partmeht of agriculture for assistance
include the followin Colorado, Gcor.
hia, Kentucky. Louisiana. MarylanI.
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey.
North Carolina. oregon, South ca
DINA, South DaRotu. virginia. Weat
! Virginia.
This shows the universally OF the
disease. Kansas and Nebraska bore
the brunt Of the anllction during The
past ear out other states have nlsa
suffered seriously. Kansas has had
mrro than her share. Severe out
breaks extended over almost the en-
tire state in 1891 and since that dpte
nave REQUIRED with equal severity on
two occasions In various portions Of
the state.
The bulletin takes notice of the fact
that additional deaths have undoubt-
eddy been due TO the use Of fake
cures sold by interruptions persong.
II u reported that In Nebraska
blackleg vaccine" was used on at
least i,500 unaffected horses. nearly
LOCO OF which are said to have died
as a direct result.
Investigators have practically c.
lablished that this morse disease con
be controlled effectively only by a to-
tai change OF feed and forage. II is
quite obvious hat there is "A direct
connection between the green forage,
exposed pasturage and newly-cut hay
or fodder which the horses eat. and
this cerebro-spinal meningitis, as the
disease Is known to scientists. In fact.
eating OF such forage when contaml-
mated is undoubtedly the most import
ant cause. over 90 per cent OF cases
Of this disease in Kansas and Ne
braska during the outbreak of 1919
were maintained Under such condl-
tions.
Great care must be taken that
horses do not obtain dangerous for
nRe unknown 10 their owners. The
owner az one farm Informed the de-
partmonts investigator that his dead
horses a eaten nothing but old hay
and grain.
But what about the closely cropped
gvass In this pasture?' remarked tho
Investigator. noticing the adjacent
field.
OH" answered ghe farmer inno-
ccntly, Il always turn the work-horses
into b pasture over night
Many horses have died from blind
~s;aggers caused by eating moidy ball
ed nay. As soon as the hay was elm
mated he disease ceased. Other
horses in the vicinity not fed upon
This hay failed 10 contract this dis
ease. Later some of the moidy bales
were opened aud exposed to the sun
ior three or our weeks. After this
the hay was fed 20 horses withaut
producing any ~ effect. Forage pol
son.1g, therefore. seems not to be an
Infection but rather what Is called
Observation-Disclosures Is, Il Is due
10 certain chemical poisons or toxins
formed by the activity OF Internal or
ganisins. These poisons may be pres
ent when tho forage is taken into the
body or may be formed In the stom-
ach. The nature OF this poison h still
unknown.
Characteristic symptoms OF This
Disease.
when the horse Is taken with the
blind stagRers IL usually exhibits a
disturbance OF the appetite, depression
and weakness. while there Is trouble
In swallowing, dropping OF the head
and sleepiness which may give way to
| excitement and attacks OF dizziness.
The vision Is impaired, which results
, In the staggering gait that gives the
disease lis popular name. Certain
muscles OF the neck and TANKS are
cramped and there Is a grinding of
the teeth. Sometimes the animal has
pains as though it were afflicted with
collie. The aninul wiil waik strange
Is ~ in an open space ana will try 90
push through any obstacle u encoun
tiers. In the stable he Will press his
head against the stall or rest II OF the
manager. Sometimes he will crowd
into "A corner. Tine temperature al
the beginning OF me disease ranges
from i03 to 101 dogrees II. but with
Ia "a hours the temperature falls and
eventually becomes subnormHl The
animal Is often down on the second
or third day and may or may not get
up when urged. Death usually occurs
In from four 20 eight days, although
Death may follow within len hours
OF the first symptoms, while chronic
cases have beer known TO last foi
three weeks. About 90 per cent Of
the affected animals die.
Medical Treafmcni Generally Unsat-
i~sfnCt0ry.
While medical treatment In the vast
majority o. eases has not brOught re-
suits, n~overthelcss II Il ~ used at al
u must be prompt and before the dis
case has had time 20 run. The diges'
tive tract should he cleaned GU thor
oughly at once. Active and concon'
trated remedles should he given. A.
nicted animals, however. have greal
dimculty IN swallowing ~immediatel,
after being taken, 40 that these rem
edies must generally be given by in
lection. Arecolin in one-helf graif
doses. simultaneously. has given goot
results as q purgativo. Early In tho
disease urutropln In doses . 25 grainl
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