A PECULIAR DISEASE AFFECTING HORSES. 
31 
The farmers in this locality believe the trouble is caused by 
a certain weed found in the hay, but scientific analysis of the 
weed has proved it to be harmless. After careful study of the 
conditions, I believe it is caused by a certain spore or fungus 
that collects on the hay stalk in the same way as u corn-stalk 
disease,” in cattle, with the difference that it affects horses, but 
I have not been able to isolate the germ. 
Semeiology .—The first noticeable sign of disease is a slight 
nervous condition ; a horse otherwise docile will shy when you 
enter the stall ; next he will fly back on his halter, elevating 
his head as high as possible, and if he succeed in breaking his 
rein, he will go backward until he meets some solid object to 
stop his backward motion. Then he will brace up for a few 
moments, the eye will begin to twitch, and he will tremble fur¬ 
iously for a few moments ; then, perhaps, he will grab the earth 
with his teeth in rapid succession or his hoof or leg or any ob¬ 
ject in reach. All the while there is great uneasiness and ner¬ 
vous anxiety depicted on his countenance, and at such time his 
mouth will be dry and hot. As the disease progresses he will 
probably go down with a spasm, and while down he will keep 
up the motion of the mouth, still grabbing at the earth, and his 
legs will move rapidly as if he were trotting. Perhaps the 
symptoms will subside for a short time, then renew again, and 
so on until death relieves him, gradually growing weaker from 
exhaustion, and the great nervous tension that he undergoes ; or 
in less severe cases he may not lose his footing, the spasms are 
not so severe, and all other symptoms pointing to a milder case. 
In such cases you may expect recovery in a short while. 
Pathology .—I am of the opinion that the trouble lies with¬ 
in the brain; that there is present a terrific congestion of the 
brain and meninges, brought on by the direct action of the 
spore affecting the nerve cells, or perhaps by ptomaine poison¬ 
ing, and as a natural consequence it is followed by meningitis 
or inflammation of the brain, and death of the animal. 
7 reatment .—The treatment is very unsatisfactory, although 
a great number of milder cases recover in from 24 to 36 hours. 
