DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 121 



■what succeeds in one locality fails in another. Those who take the most pains to avoid 

 the disease suffer the most. New locations and fresh walks, with pure water to drink, 

 is highly recommended. The latest preventive and cure is tohacco-pills, given when 

 the fowls are drooping, either in food or otherwise. 



Mr. L. D. Van Dyke, Clarksville, Red Eiver County, Texas, says : 



The most serious disease aifecting horses and mules and causing serious loss among 

 these animals is called " hlind staggers." For many years it was the prevailing opinion 

 liere that this disease was caused by feeding worm-eaten or unsound corn, but in ld75 

 our loss in this and adjoining counties was very serious, and we never had heavier or 

 better corn than in that year. Stock not in use and fed entirely on grass are not liable 

 to contract the disease, and nearly all those attacked ^vould recover if they were turned 

 on grass as soon as the first symptoms appear. 



The first symptom of the disease is a disposition to sleep, and a dull, stupid appear- 

 ance generally. As the disease progresses the animal becomes blind, and the disease 

 soon assumes the form of brain-fever. Some die in twenty- four hours, while others may 

 linger for weeks. I have relieved several by boring through the skull to the brain 

 with a small penknife. They recover their sight immediately and become very docile ; 

 but it is evidently a disease of the stomach, and I think much of it is caused by too 

 severe labor when the stomach is full, although it has raged here as an epidemic. 



A disease affected the hogs in this county last spring which caused very great loss. 

 It was evidently a disease of the lungs, as the symptoms were a dry cough and diffi- 

 culty in breathing, similar to that produced by eating cotton-seeds. About 50 per 

 cent, of those affected died. I am told that all were cured that were given copperas 

 and gunpowder. Here in the South, where for many months in the year hogs have to 

 find their own support as best they may, I attribute most of the diseases to which they 

 are incident to worms. All diseases to which they are subject here are called cholera ; 

 but I have had no experience with regular cholera in hogs. 



Much of the disease among chickens called cholera is produced by their eating hen- 

 bane or nightshade, which grows very plentifully throughout this country. The 

 chickens eat it with avidity in the spring season. 



Mr. E. S. Brown, Betlileliem, Xortliaraptou Comity, reimsylvania, 

 says : 



Since the epizootic malady some years ago among horses, the most fatal disease, and 

 the worst one that we ever experienced, was the spinal disease among the same class 

 of animals. The horse would be taken out of the stable apparently well, and after 

 being driven a mile or two would fall down, completely paralyzed, and unable to get 

 up behind. As this disease appeared in the early part of winter, during snow and bad 

 roads, unless within calling distance and with the assistance of a dozen strong men, 

 the animal was in danger of perishing on the spot. I have taken mine home on low 

 sleds, rolled them off into large and warm stables, padded them all round with straw 

 to keep them from knocking their brains out in their frantic efforts to get up, and 

 then iised the following remedies with success : I took an empty salt-bag and filled it 

 with clover-heads. Upon this scalding water was poured, and it was then applied to 

 the skin as hot as could be borne. This was renewed every half hour by careful men 

 during the whole night. The horse was then rubbed dry and a mild laxative medicine 

 used for a few days. After that the horse was raised to his feet by means of a side of 

 leather to which was attached rings and pulleys. This was done at intervals of six 

 hours. The horse was allowed to stand about thirty minutes, when he was let down 

 again, and this operation was then suspended for eight or ten days. If left to lie 

 without being compelled to stand up they will never recover. Veterinary surgeons, 

 who tried the old remedies of bleeding and purging, and applying tvirpentiue to the 

 spine, lost every horse so treated. 



Disease among fowls has been general, and the losses have been very heavy. Nei- 

 ther the poor man's dozen nor the rich man's hundreds were spared. They died by 

 hundreds and thousands. Most of them would droop for a few days and then die. 

 Others would die upon their roosts or nests. Young and old seemed to fare alike. No 

 remedies proved effective. The disease continued over a period of five or six years, 

 utttil it was thought none would be saved. People continue to lose some, but the dis- 

 ease is now abating. The best remedy I know of is wheat-bran made into a thick 

 paste with milk and liberally sprinkled with red pepper. They eat it ravenously. 



Mr. Amos Woodling, Beacli City, Stark County, Ohio, says : 



Heavy losses have been sustained among fowls by the ravages of a disease called 

 chicken-cholera. Entire flocks have been destroyed by it. The fowl becomes stupid, 

 loses its general brightness about the head, diarrhea sets in, and the result is death 

 within three or four days. After death the liver is found to be of a light clay color. 



