Proc. Roy. Sot. Victoria. 25 (N.S.) Part II . 1912.] 



Ar'I'. XVI 1 1. — Farali/sifi in Horses and in Coivs due to the 

 Ingestion of Fodder. 



Rv J. A. (ULPvUTH, D.V.Sc. M.R.C.V.S., F.R.S.E. 

 [Bead 12th September. 1912]. 



Fur many years a funa of progressive paralysis in cattle, evinced 

 primarily by an inability to ingest food, associated with absence 

 of rumination, more or less rapid emaciation and early death, has 

 been recorded as prevalent in Victoria, South Australia, and 

 even in certain districts of Tasmania. 



Many articles have appeared in the lay and agricultural press 

 dealing chiefly with the symptoms, the seasonable occurrence, the 

 nature of tlie food supply, and, to some extent, the post-mortem 

 appearances, but little systematic enquiry into the etiology seems 

 to have been attempted. 



So far as I am aware, the first accurate and scientific description 

 of the disease was published in the " Australasian Farm and 

 Home," in April, 1896, by my colleague. Dr. W. T. Kendall, and 

 his account of the symptoms is so careful and concise, that no one 

 having perused it could fail to recognise a typical case. Under 

 the head of " post-mortem appearances," it is worthy of note that 

 Dr. Kendall states regarding those cases he examined : — " The sup- 

 posed impaction of the omasum or third stomach to which the mor- 

 tality has been entirely attributed, did not exist." 



Dr. S. S. Cameron, in Victoria, who gives in various articles a 

 definite account of the symptoms, concludes that the condition is a 

 paralysis of the 9th and 10th cranial nerve due either to some 

 form of mould (fungus) poisoning or solely to the non-succulent and 

 innutritions nature of the food supply, either of which he con- 

 siders a useful hypothesis for future work. At a later date I under- 

 stand he suggested the term " Impaction Paralysis." on account of 

 the impaction of the rumen, which, in his experience, was almost 

 invariably present. He appears to consider that the diseases known 

 popularly as " Stomach Staq-gers." " Winton Disease." " Cripples," 

 etc., are one and the same. 



In South Australia Mr. J. Desmond has given much attention 

 to the condition. (See report to tlic Hon. Minister for Agriculture, 

 and Veterinary Journal. Vol. 60. No. 417. page 161.) In his fir^t 



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