Milk Sickness, 305 



character discovered, (and it appears where the snake root is 

 unknown, and is unknown where that plant is common), 

 have assigned it to drinking water, and others again to an 

 " emanation from the soil." But all these are guesses only. 

 It is common in some parts of Ohio, Indiana, Southern 

 Illinois, Tennessee and South Carolina. 



One of its most serious features is that it is communicable 

 to man through the milk of diseased animals ; and it is in 

 many instances incurable, and finally fatal. 



So concentrated is the poison that hides of animals which 

 have died of it, if eaten by rats and mice, will destroy 

 them as certainly as "ratsbane," as has been proven on un- 

 questionable authority. Horses and sheep are also liable to 

 attacks of it. 



Symptoms. — The principal symptoms of the trembles are 

 great weakness and prostration of the nervous system, dull- 

 ness and drooping, accompanied by obstinate constipation and 

 coKc. The animals are unable to make any but the shortest 

 journeys, and on the least fatigue stagger and tremble, or 

 drop down. 



Should they recover, or apparently so, and resume their 

 usual condition of health, this nervous exhaustion remains, 

 and they are never able to bear a long march. Animals 

 which die of the disease usually present an acute inflamma- 

 tion of the intestinal canal. 



Treatment. — This is either by large doses of stimulants 

 or by full quantities of salts and other purgatives, aided by 

 injections to overcome the constipation ; or by both these 

 methods combined, as occasion demands. 



The pasturage should be changed and the suspected field 

 ploughed up and cropped ; or if it is a grove, it should be 

 cut down, stubbed and tilled. Whatever the cause of the 



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