The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-08-11

"O1h as well oS q e3AAAoSA
work built like a crate. Protec-
ton from hot sunlight, fresh
water and food placed IN easy
reach ana every conceivable de-
vice utilized to make the horse
comfortable, will aid greatly to
enable the animal to finally
throw OFF the infection. NO
horse that is down and help
less, flat on his side on the
ground, can be expected to live.
If propped up by SACKS OF straw
IN a more or less uprlgnt posi-
ton, he Will stand a better
| chance, but he must be on his
4eet soon, to recover.
Vaccine
There is a reliable vaccine
against encephalomyelitis, but
It has two DRAWBACKS, It's eX-
oense, and the long period re-
luired to produce us protective
effects. The expense Will vary,
according to the number OF hor-
SEES v~acclnated ana the distance
the veterinarian mas TO travel,
from four to six dollars per
IlO1 sc, u1lOSl OAA1AoAy
stances.
Protection cannot be expect
ed until $3.50 days after the
vaccine is administered, so that
we advise the S OF vaccine by
the first of July, or earlier. The
use of vaccine after the dis
ease has appeared IN a bunch
of horses cannot be expected TO
prevent the development of new
cases for about a month, and
ordinarily the danger is over by
that time. Therefore, except IN
the case of valuable horses To-
Gated Where outbreaks of ell
cephalOmyelitiS may be eXpec-
ected to occur, the use of this
vaccine is a rather high priced
insurance against loss, for the
cost OF vaccination OF a large
number Of animals may Ue
greater than the value OF the
horses lost, and there is always
the possibility that the disease
may not occur on that ranch or
even in tine county.
Horses that recover from ell
cephalmyelltis usually become
entirely normal, though a few
remain "dummieS,' more or less
stupid, and inclined 10 incoor-
dination Of gait.
Preventive Measures
Since we are by no means
sure just how the disease is
spread in all cases, every pre-
caution should be taken to mlll-
imize the contact between sick
horses and healthy ones. Man.
ure disposal, corral drainage,
and such possible sources OF M
lection should be considered.
Water buckets, halIerS, etc,
used with sick horses should, of
course, be kept away from 9TH
er horses. The owner o. per-
son attending the sick animal
should not permit himself to go
directly from the sick animal
to other horses without the US
ual cOmmOn-SenSe precautions.
If the disease exists on neigh
boring ranches, whatever can
be done to avoid contacts may
help, keeping the horses at
home and dlscouraging others
from bringing their horses onto
the ranch.
During the winter, many cas-
es of forage poisoning" due to
mOuldy straw or grain; and
outbreaks of botulism, or pois-
oning by the toxin OF the bot
ulinus bacillus, may occur in
horses. These cases resemble
encephalmyelitis very closely;
in fact, veterinarians with con-
siderable experience may we'll
be bothered to tell them apart.
It must be remembered that en-
cephalomyelitis is essentially a
disease of the hot summer and
early fall, and that in this area
no cases of true encephalmyel-
tits may be expected during cold
weather; whereas, the forage
poisoning and botulism out
breaks are nearly always found
during the winter months.
Horse owners should prompt
ly report any cases OF suspected
sleeping sickness to the nearest
veterinarian or to the State vet
erinarian at Helena.