129 



sylvauia, from colic aud ill-treatmeut ; aud in the same county, twenty 

 liorses died in a mine from some unknown cause. Colic, with ill-usage 

 and starvation, has been fatal in Wilkinson, Mississippi. In Burt, 

 Nebraska, some deaths have occurred from colic, caused b}' eating green 

 corn and new oats. 



In Washington, New York, swelling and stiffness of the joints, some- 

 times attended with partial blindness, has been a common complaint. 



An affection of the kidneys, in Tompkins, New York, has occasioned 

 some loss. 



In Clarke, Alabama, horses have been attacked with a swelling under 

 the throat and jaws, extending down the legs, and causing death. 



The buffalo fly has caused the death of horses and mules in Lauder- 

 dale, Tennessee. 



Charbon, so fatal in the South a few years ago, has nearly disappeared ; 

 it is less fatal than formerly, in places mentioned, as Yazoo and Holmes, 

 Mississippi, aud Desha, Arkansas. 



Lac County, Iowa, a disease assumed to be chronic inflammation of 

 the liver has been fata!. 



''Blind staggers " is reported in many localities throughout the South. 



In Alameda, California, influenza and milk fever are reported as 

 prevalent. 



In Pulaski, Illinois, horses brought from Kansas communicated a 

 disease to those with which they came in contact, which proved fatal in 

 two or three weeks, while the Kansas horses remain in about the same 

 condition as when introduced. 



A large number of horses has been lost by a catarrhal fever at Cleve- 

 land, Ohio ', and a disease affecting the coffin joint, resulting fatally in 

 ten days, has occasioned some loss. Diagnosis show a separation of the 

 ligaments of the joint and foot, which turns up, causing the animal to 

 step uijon tlie ankle. The flexor tendons are literally severed from the 

 lamina, and the foot will drop off by simply cutting through the skin 

 with a knife. None have ever been ciu-ed, and no one appears to know 

 the cause of the dilflculty. Animals, apparently healthy, drop in the 

 harness or at xjasture, get up only a few times, and unable to walk a step. 



The following extracts refer to other diseases : 



Kalamazoo County, Michigau. — A strange disease has prevailed to some extent in this 

 conuty during the last three months. Nearly all horses die that are attacked. It does 

 not seem to yield to any remedies, so far as I can learn. It is attended with chills, 

 fever, congestion of the lungs, and great prostration or weakness. It is thought to be 

 contagious, one farmer having lost four within a short time. 



Vernon County, Mo. — Horses have died in large excess of former years. The re- 

 ports show three diseases : blind staggers, yellow water, aud sore tongue. They are all 

 described as living about a mouth before dying ; eat hearty, get hide-bound, the hair 

 deadens, they matter at the eyes aud nose, aud die of weakness. Some farmers have 

 lost nearly all their horses in this way. From the infoi'mation received, I have reduced 

 the three diseases to one, and that one caused by feeding the worm-eaten corn, (care- 

 lessly,) which was so common last year, owing to the continued rains. 



A fatal disease affecting horses is reported from Douglass County, 

 Nevada : 



Post-mortem examination determines the cause to be a small wire worm, from one- 

 half an inch to two inches in length, pointed at either end, white, and about the di- 

 ameter of a cambric needle. Thej^ penetrate the body of the animal in all directions, 

 and have been found in some instances between the flesh and the skin. They are 

 hard, wiry, and very tenacious of life. When placed in a decoction of tobacco juice 

 they swim around quite playfully, eventually, however, giving it up. The symptoms 

 manifested by the animal are weakness of the loin and general debility, gradually 

 growing worse, lingering from five to ten days thereafter. The disease is not confined 

 to any locality ; makes its appearance in spots, but generally when it appears several 

 of the band die. One farmer lost eight, his neighbor nine, another lost twenty-six, 

 among which was a valuable stallion, that was kept up in the stable ; the b.alance were 



