The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-06-22
WALKING DISEASE
DEATH TO HORSES
By State Veterinarian.

naturally the situation is viewed with
alarm. The disease is one that has
previously appeared in this section,
though last year the country was
practically free from it. We have
tried to make a thoro investigation
and have come here with our minds
free from any previous or formed
opinion. From the history of the
several cases here in Morrow county
it would seem that the trouble was
indirectly due to either an infection
or a poison that was taken into the
system with either the food or water.
The first cases investigated pointed
rather strongly to source of plant
poisoning, larkspur, death camas and
lupine were found, the latter plant in
abundance in the pasture where the
horses affected were grazing. The
symptoms in one ailing animal pres
ent were those that would be seen in
chronic lupine poisoning. The horses
on near neighboring farm, where
ten had died during the past four
months, showed none sick and the
pastures revealed only lupine and
death camas, but the history of the
case would indicate that several hors-
es had died during the winter months
with the same symptoms and Of
course no access could then be had to
the poisonous plants. On another
4 farm where ten head of animals had
died, no poisonous plants could be
found in the pasture, and also a COW
\ had died with symptoms that would
/ indicate possibly disease Hemor-
rhage Septicemia, which might be the
disease that the stricken horses We're
dying from. In order to arrive at
some definite conclusion we vaccinat-
ed horses ON three farms with a vac
cine that is known to prevent Hemor-
rhage Septicemia and some OF the
allied diseases that resemble this
malady. II this vaccine offers protec-
tion 1t will be reasonable to believe
that the disease is Of the Hemor-
rhagic Septicemic order. IT should
be said that this disease Hemorrhagic
Septicemia is not contagious, it Is in
fictitious. that Is, it is contracted from
the infection that comes out of the
soil and generally enters the system
Through the drinking water.
1t is possible, should this be the
ailment, that the disease is held over
from year to year by improperly dis
posed carcases. The disease is known
to be prevalent during vars in which
to be prevalent during years in which
that contains much heterogeneous ma
terial Is most apt to carry infection
This spring being one of frequent
rains would be source of much veg
citation in the water, and the winter
being a severe one left many bands of
horses quite poor in flesh and natur-
ally weak in resistance, hence the
reason for the ailment this year and
the absence of it last year. The dis
ease, in my opinion, is not infectious.
Animals will not give it directly to
one another. although the presence
Of dead animal left unburied will
increase the amount of infective ma
terial for next year and sick animal
in certain stages might be the means
of distributing some of the infectious
organisms, but it would seem that
the infection is not transmissable
from animal to animal. On a great
many farms reports have come OF
horses dying during former years this
would indicate either poisonous
plants or an infection that had lain
dormant last year.
Owners should make all changes
possible in the handling of their an.
imals. Feed should be changed
Pastures should be changed. Water
should be changed or purified by add.
ing lime to the we'll or table spoon
:, full of chloride of lime to large tank
!. of water. Sick animals should be
separated from the well. Alfalfa hay
should be provided and grain hay dis
carded. Animals should be vaccinat.
. ed If 1t proves that 1t will protect
, Treatment Is not satisfactory in hor.
ses that are affected. In prevention
lies the solution. Sick animals should
be given mild liver stimulants such as
ten grains of calomel followed by q
quarter-pound dose of salts (epsom
or glauber) morning and night. Dur.
ing the middle of the day four ounce
doses of paraphine or raw oil should
be given. Food should be withheld
for thirty to forty hours when the
animal first takes sick. Fresh water
should be always within reach. Two
to four drachm doses Of crude euro
tropine should be given to disinfect
the abdominal and urinary tract. AT
ter the first treatment which should
be eliminative, good nursing should
, be carried out. Eggs and milk should
be fed literally.
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