118 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK 



CHAPTER V. 



DISEASES OF THE GLANDS AND NASAL MEMBRANES. 

 BLIND STAGGERS. 



Blind staggers 'projper is peculiar to the Southern States. 

 In the form in which it there exists, it is not found north of 

 the latitude of thirty-six. What is known by that name in 

 the ITorthern States and in Europe is not properly blind 

 staggers, and is attended wi€h but few of the dreadful symp- 

 toms of the disease as it manifests itself in the South. In 

 the North, and in Europe, numerous aftections of the horse 

 thaf produce sleepiness or giddiness — most forms of vertigo 

 and slight attacks of apoplexy — are all vaguely termed stag- 

 gers. It is true that these often cause a staggering gait ; but 

 they are accompanied by none of the other characteristic 

 symptoms of bUnd staggers. 



We are satisfied that neither the people of the JSTorthern 

 States, nor even the best informed writers on the horse, have 

 any knowledge of this dreadful scourge of the cotton States, 

 where, in former years, it prevailed to a terrible extent. At 

 one period — from 1848 to 1854 — its ravages were especially 

 destructive, and became really fearful to contemplate. Cer- 

 tain sections of the country were nearly depopulated of the 

 working stock, and, what was worse, they were sections where 

 the people were the least able to bear the loss. It broke out 

 much more frequently on new plantations, where the ground 

 had been under cultivation but a short time, than in the older 

 and more cultivated districts. 



During the long residence of the author at the South, mjich 

 time was spent in the careful study of this disease, and nearly 

 all parts of the cotton States were visited, for the purpose of 

 gathering fact^ in relation to its manifestations in diflTerent 



