The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-02-27
METHODS TO CONTROL
BLIND STAGGERS
Which Is Causing the Death of Thous
ands of Horses.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 26.-In
past years horses have died by the
thousands in Texas, Iowa, Kansas and
Nebraska from a disease affecting the
nervous system, particularly known
as blind staggers or forage poisoning.
| The Department of Agriculture has re
ceived urgent requests for help
against this disease from Is different
States, and as result it is now pub
fishing bulletin containing definite
| instructions for combating this dis
ease.
The States that appealed to the De-
partment of Agriculture for assistance
include the following:
| Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, LOui-
siana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska,
New Jersey, Neorth Carolina, Oregon,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Vir-
GINA, West Virginia.
This shows the universally of the
diesase. Kansas and Nebraska bore
/! the brunt of the affection during the
past year, but other States have also
suffered seriously Kansas has had
more than her share. Severe out
breaks extended over almost the en-
tire State in 1891 and since that date
|
two occasions in various portions of
the State.
The bulletin takes notice of the
fact that additional deaths have un-
doubtedly been due to the use OF fake
"cures" sold by INSCRIPTIONS persons.
1t is reported that in Nebraska black
leg vaccine" was used on tleast l.
600 unaffected horses, nearly 1900 of
which are said to have died as di-
rect result.
investigators have practically es-
tablished that this horse disease can
be controlled effectively only by to-
tai change of feed and forage. 1t is
quite obvious that there is direct
connection between the green forage,
exposed pasturage and new-cut hay or
fodder which the horses eat, and this
Cerebrospinal Meningitis, as the dis
ease is known to scientists. In fact,
eating of such forage when contamin-
ated is undoubtedly the most impor-
tant cause. Over 95 per cent. of cases
of this disease in Kansas and Ne
braska during the outbreak of 1912
were maintained under such condi-
lions.
Great care must be taken that
horses do not obtain the dangerous
forage unknown to their owners. The
owner of one farm informed the De-
partment's investigator that his dead
horses had eaten nothing but old hay
and grain.
"But what about the closely-cropped
grass in this pasture?" remarked the
investigator, noticing the adjacent
field.
"Oh," answered the farmer inno-
Gently, 81 always turn the warehouses
into the pasture over night"
Many horses have died from blind
staggers caused from eating baled
hay. AS soon as the hay was elm
mated the disease ceased. Other
horses in the vicinity not fed upon
this hay failed to contract this dis
ease. Later some of the moldy bales
were opened and exposed to the sun
for three or four weeks. After this
the hay was fed to horses without
producing any ill effect. Forage pois-
oning, therefore, seems not to be an
infection but rather what is called
| "autO-intoxication" is, it is due
to certain chemical poisons or toxins
formed by the activity of internal or
ganism. These pOisOnS may be pres
ent when the forage is taken into the
body or may be formed in the StOm-
ach. The nature of this poison is still
unknown.
Characteristic Symptoms of This Dis
ease.
When the horse is taken with the
blind staggers it usually exhibits a
disturbance of the appetite, depres-
sion 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 it's pOpual 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 animal will
walk strangely if in an open space and
will try to push through any obstacle
it encounters. In the stable he will
press his head against the stall or
rest it on the manger:- Sometimes
he will crowd into a corner. The
temperature at the beginning of the
disease ranges from 103 to 107 de-
grees F., but within "a hours the
temperature falls and eventually be-
comes subnormal. The animal is Of
ten down on the second or third day
and may or may not get up when
urged. Death usually occurs in from
four to eight days, although death
may follow within ten hours of the
first symptoms, while chronic cases
have been known to last for three
weeks. About 80 per cent. of the
affected animals die.
Medical Treatment Generally Uusat.
| isfactory.
While medical treatment in the
vast majority of cases has not brought
results, nevertheless if it is used at all
it must be prompt and before the
disease has had time to run. The di-
| gestive tract shoulC be cleaned out
thoroughly at once. Active and con-
centrated remedies should be given.
Afflicted animals however, have great
difficulty in swallowing Immediately
after being taken, so that these rene
dies muSt conQra1lv no oivop bu en-