A simple treatment for “rye-grass staggers”?

Abstract

Extract

Sir,—A series of happy coincidences (serendipity?) has led us to a simple treatment which seems to have successfully alleviated symptoms of “rye-grass staggers” in a horse, a calf and two badly affected sheep. Although primarily engaged in a search for the causative agent(s) of rye-grass staggers, casual conversations with people having long experience of this disorder revealed many interesting observations. One of these was a racing-stable remedy for rye-grass staggers, which was the administration of “a couple of handfulls” of Epsom salts in a bran mash, with as much puha (Sonchus oleraceus) as the horse would eat. A suggestion that puha may be high in potassium led to the substitution of potassium chloride for puha, and on 9 March 1981, a thoroughbred mare was dosed with 100 g MgS0₄7H₂O and 6g KCl. This animal had marked symptoms of ryegrass staggers, such as swaying and head-weaving when standing, and a very irregular and unsteady gait at the walk. It is doubtful whether the animal could have trotted in this condition. The mare was greatly improved the following day, with no evidence of the above symptoms, and on the 13 March, the mare was able to trot freely around her paddock when chased by a motor bike. On the 16 March the mare again showed symptoms of rye-grass staggers, was treated as before and similarly improved. On 13 March a calf was reported to be staggering, and was drenched with 50 g MgSO₄7H₂O and 3 g K? 1. It too, recovered, and on 20 March showed only very slight symptoms, which had not worsened by 23 March and further treatment was not warranted.