CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS (‘‘ FORAGE POISONING ’’). 13 
logical action. Therefore, with all the previously mentioned facts 
before us, it is evident that the first principle in the treatment of this 
disease is prevention, which consists in the exercise of proper care in 
feeding only clean, well-cured forage and grain and pure water from 
an uncontaminated source. These measures when faithfully carried 
out check the development of additional cases of the disease upon 
the affected premises. | 
While medicinal treatment has proved unsatisfactory in the vast 
majority of cases, nevertheless the first indication is to clean out the 
digestive tract thoroughly, and to accomplish this prompt measures 
must be used early in the disease. Active and concentrated reme- 
dies should be given, preferably subcutaneously or intravenously, 
owing to the great difficulty in swallowing, even in the early stage. 
Arecolin in one-half grain doses, subcutaneously, has given as much sat- 
isfaction as any other drug. After purging the animal the treatment 
is mostly symptomatic. Intestinal disinfectants, particularly calomel, 
salol, and salicylic acid, have been recommended, and mild anti- 
septic mouth washes are advisable. Antipyretics are of doubtful 
value, as better results are obtained, if the temperature is high, by 
copious cold-water injections. An ice pack applied to the head is 
beneficial in case of marked psychic disturbance. One-ounce doses 
of chloral hydrate per rectum should be given if the patient is violent 
or muscular spasms are severe. {f the temperature becomes sub- 
normal, the animal should be warmly blanketed, and if much weakness 
is shown this should be combated with stimulants, such as strych- 
nin, camphor, alcohol, atropin, or aromatic spirits of ammonia. 
Early in the disease urotropin (hexamethylenamin) in doses of 25 
erains, dissolved in water and given by the mouth every two hours, 
appeared to have been responsible for the recovery of some cases of 
the malady. During convalescence the usual tonic treatment is 
indicated. : 
Many of the so-called “cures” made their reputation at the time 
the outbreak was abating and when noninterference was proved to 
be equally effective. One of the most unpleasant developments of 
the outbreak in 1912 was the great amount of ‘faking,’ which 
seemed to be the only contagious feature connected with the disease. 
Ali kinds of drug specifics, serums, and vaccines developed like mush- 
rooms and were exploited in almost every community devastated by 
the disease. Many tainted dollars were obtained from the suffering 
horse owners, who grasped at every newly advanced treatment like 
drowning men clutching at straws. In Nebraska, blacklee vaccine 
was reported to have been used as a preventive on at least 1,600 horses, 
and nearly 1,500 of them are said to have died as a direct result of the 
vaccine. This feature is now being investigated by the Government. 
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