DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 217 



commonl}^ 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. 



Symptoms. — The sj^raptoms which typify sporadic, or epidemic, cere- 

 bro-spinal meningitis in man are not witnessed among horses, namely, 

 excessive pain, high fever, and earl}^ muscular rigidity. In the recog- 

 nition of the severity of the attack we may divide the symptoms into 

 three grades. In the most rapidly fatal attacks, the animal may llrst 

 indicate it by weak, staggering gait, partial or total inability to swal- 

 low solids or liquids, impairment of e3^esight; twitching of the mus- 

 cles, and slight cramps may be observed. As a rule, the temperature 

 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 automatic move- 

 ments as if trotting or running; the delirium may become very violent 

 and the animal in his unconsciousness bruise his head in his struggles 

 very seriously, but usually a deep coma renders him quiet until he expires. 

 Death in these cases usually takes place in from four to twenty-four 

 hours from the time the first sj-mptoms became manifest. The pulse is 

 variable during the progress of the disease; it may be almost imper- 

 ceptible at times, and then again very rapid and irregular; the res- 

 pirations generally are quick and catching. In the next form in which 

 this disease may develop, it first becomes manifest by a difficulty in 

 swallowing and slowness in mastication, and a weakness which may be 

 first noticed in the strength of the tail; the animal will be unable to 

 switch it or to offer resistance when we bend it up over the croup. The 

 pulse is often a little slower than normal. There is no evidence of 

 pain; the respirations are unchanged, and the temperature little less 

 than normal; the bowels may be somewhat constipated. These symp- 

 toms ma}'' remain unchanged for two or three days and then gradual 

 improvement take place, or the power to swallow may become entirely 

 lost and the weakness and uncertainty in gait more and more percep- 

 tible; then sleepiness or coma maj^ appear; the pulse becomes depressed, 

 slow, and weak, the breathing- stertorous, and paroxysms of delirium 

 develop, with inability to stand, and some rigidity of the spinal mus- 

 cles or partial cramp of the neck and jaws. In such cases death may 

 occur in frQm six to ten days from the commencement of the attack. 

 In many cases there is no evidence of pain, spasm, or fever at any 

 time during the progress of the disease, and finally profound coma 

 develops and death follows, painless and without a struggle. 



In the last or mildest form, the inability of voluntary control of the 

 limbs becomes but slightly marked, the power of swallowing never 

 entirely lost, and the animal has no fever, pain, or unconscious move- 

 ments. Generally the animal will begin to improve about the fourth 

 day and recovers. 



