* « 



> 



126 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



equally exempt. Of two farmers, in the same neighborhood 

 where the disease prevails extensively, let one carefully brush 

 off the worm-dust from the corn before feeding it to his 

 horses, and the other neglect this precaution. The former 

 will be in little danger of any trouble with blind staggers 

 among his stock, while the latter stands a good chance of 

 having to sustain heavy losses from it. 



These facts plainly indicate one highly-important means 

 of prevention. If the farmer must feed worm-eaten corn to 

 his horses, he should be at pains first to brush off the poison- 

 ous dust. It would be still better if he could get corn alto- 

 gether free from it. 



Good, strong wood ashes, kept in the trough or manger, 

 have been used with excellent results, as a preventive remedy. 

 Still more certain and efficacious, when it is employed in the 

 same manner, are the effects of tobacco, especially if the finer 

 portions of it shell off in the manger. The tobacco, in fact, 

 had better be made fine before placing it in the feeding-place. 

 The fine dust of these substances increases the secretions, so 

 as to keep the lacrymal ducts open. 



It Avill be well to watch for the premonitory symptoms of 

 the disease, such' as the horse drooping his head ; sudden 

 starts, as if struck with a whip; the pulse very rapid, and hot; 

 and great heat about the head, in the region of the brain, as 

 well as the frontal bone, just below the eyes. More marked 

 indications accompany the further development of the disease. 

 When the horse is in health, a rap upon the cranium gives 

 forth a hollow sound ; but now the sound is dull and heavy, 

 much as when a cup filled with water is struck. The little 

 openings into the nostrils, which we have described, should 

 show no signs of obstruction, nor of any discharge other than 

 the clear-looking water from the eyes. But now the openings 

 appear nearly or quite stopped up, and discharge more or less 

 matter ; the nostrils are covered with scabs, and much swol- 

 len, and the back parts of them appear very red and angry. 

 ^ When these symptoms are exhibited, the owner may be sure 



that blind staggers, in its worst stages, is at no great distance. 



I 



t 



