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Show 'Blind Staggers' Likely to Attack Horses in Summer Hot Weather is the time when the horse disease encephalomyelitis, encephalomye-litis, sometimes called "blind staggers'' stag-gers'' "brain fever," cr "sleeping sickness" is most likely to appear, says Dr. D. E. Madsen, Animal Pathologist of the Utah State Agricultural Ag-ricultural College. The disease affects af-fects the nervous systems of horses and mules. In recent years, especially espec-ially during the summer months, it has caused serious losses in the west, middle west and several states alcng the Atlantic coast, but may strike anywhere. Tt is an infectious disease and the symptoms generally occur in three phases. The first state may escape notice as it usually is only p. mild indisposition commonly accompanied' with a rise in temperature. temp-erature. The second stage is characterized char-acterized by distinct nervous symp-t symp-t ms which may or may not be accompanied with fever. In the last stage the horse miay go down and be unable to rise, sometimes thrashing violently with the legs and head. Death usually follows when these last symptoms develop. Encephalt myelitis may be easily confused with other diseases, Dr. Madsen points cut. The symptoms symp-toms are similar to other ailments cf the central nervous syserm, and a veterinarian, should be called at the fust indication cf sickness. Although the chances for cure are greatest in the early stages of the disease, there is no remedy effective effec-tive in all cases. Treatment varies with the nature of the symptoms. It is especially important to keep the animal comfortable and to prevent self-inflicted injury. Investigatcrs cf the U. S. Bureau of Animal Industry make the following fol-lowing recommendations on the basis of numerous reports from officials and practicing veterinarians veterinar-ians in all states. Horses and mules that begin to show symptoms of the disease should be isolated froml healthy animals and protected against biting bit-ing insects, as the disease is spread, it is belived hy mosquitoes or other bl: cd-sucking insects. Where the disease exists, it is advisable to stable healthy animals when not working and to protect them' in every way against insects. A tissue vaocine, treated with formalin, has been developed for protection against the disease, but requires some time fcr the immunity immun-ity to develop, and should be given before the disease makes its appearance. ap-pearance. Various tests indicate most animals may be protected when given two deses cf vaccine several days apart. Immune serum, commercially a-vailable, a-vailable, may be beneficial if administered ad-ministered very early and in large quantities acccrding to some authorities. auth-orities. The use of serums either as a preventative or in treatment should be left to the judgment of the veterinarian who is familiar with conditions In the locality. |