FORAGE POISONING. 217 



It is often diificiilt or impossible to discover that an injury to a nerve 

 has been inflicted, bnt whenever this is possible it may enable ns to 

 remedy that which otherwise would result in permanent evil. Treat- 

 ment should consist in relieving compression, in hot fomentations, 

 the application of anodyne liniments, excision of the injured part, 

 and rest. 



FORAGE POISONING, OR SO-CALLED CEREBRO- SPINAL MENINGITIS. 



This disease prevails among horses in nearly all parts of the United 

 States. It is most common in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North 

 Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Kansas, Missouri, 

 Illinois, Indiana, and t)hio. Certain localities are visited by it 

 almost every year. This condition consists in a poisoning and de- 

 pression of the nervous system from eating or drinking food or water 

 containing poison generated by mold or bacteria. It has been shown 

 to be due to eating damaged ensilage, corn, brewers' grains, oats, etc., 

 or to drinking stagnant pond water or water from a well contami- 

 nated by surface drainage. Horses at pasture may contract this dis- 

 ease when the growth of grass is so profuse that it mats together and 

 the lower part dies and ferments or becomes moldy. 



In England a similar disease has been called ^ grass staggers," due 

 to eating rye grass when it is ripening or when it is cut and eaten 

 w^hile it is heating and undergoing fermentation. In eastern Penn- 

 sylvania it was formerly known by the name of " putrid sore throat " 

 and '' choking distemper." xV disease similar in many respects, which 

 is very prevalent in Virginia, especially along the eastern border, is 

 commonly known by the name of '" blind staggers," and in many of 

 the Southern States this has been attributed to the consumption of 

 worm-eaten corn. Horses of all ages and mules are subject to this 

 disease. 



Symptoins. — The symptoms which typify sporadic, or epidemic, 

 cerebro-spinal meningitis in man are not witnessed among horses, 

 namely, excessive pain, high fever, and early muscular rigidity. In 

 the recognition of the severity of the attack we may divide the symp- 

 toms into three grades. In the most rapidly fatal attacks the animal 

 may first indicate it by weak, staggering gait, partial or total inabil- 

 ity to swallow solids or liquids, impairment of eyesight; twitching of 

 the muscles, and slight cramps may be observed. As a rule, the tem- 

 perature is not elevated — indeed, it is sometimes below normal. This 

 is soon followed by a paralysis of the whole body, inability to stand, 

 delirium in which the animal sometimes goes through a series of auto- 

 matic movements as if trotting or running; the delirium may become 

 very violent and the animal in his unconsciousness may bruise his head 

 in his struggles very seriousl}^ but usually a deep coma renders him 

 quiet until he expires. Death in these cases usually takes place in 



