Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-23
From the Genesee Farmer,

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From the Genesee Farmer, -.
nHor.e DistcmPer. - -
The horse is one Of the most valuable OF
the animals that have been subjected to the
dominion of man and he is at the same time
one of The most liable to injury and most
subject to disease. To some complaints he
is subject at all times while there are others
that appear in some unknown manner to be
connected with the season aud make stesr
attacks on animals at certain periods of the
year almost exclusively. Ofthis kind is the
disease known as the eatarrh, catarrhal fe-
Der, iufuenza, but by the farmers generally
as the horse distemper, and which prevails
more at this season. of the year ttar any
other. This disease is sometimes though
not often fatal, unless injudlcious measures
are adopted in its treatment, but it Is always
troublesome, incapacitating a horse forlabor
for a long time, and asst is contagious, and
it's appearance in the stables, is in most ca.
ses, q signal that it will extend to allthe ami.
mas exposed, unless the diseased one is ne.
moved at once, we have copied an account
of the disease from the work on the horse
by Mr.. Youatt, Of the Veterinary College,
London. .s ...
/" It usually commences like inf1amua.
ton of the lungs and fever, with shivering
fit, to which rapidly succeed hotrnouth,
greater heat of the skin han is natural, hea.
wing. of the 0anks and cough. The mem
brane ofthe nose red, and sometimes bor-
dering on livd hue. From the commence.
ment of the disease there is some discharge
from The nose, at first watery, but soon thick.
or, and containing fakes which adhere at all
times TO the nostril. This discharge soon
becomes ma,tery and offensive. The glands
urrne rnruur snd uuuer Jaw becomes, ,eMafg.
ed the membranes Of The nostrils and throat
are inAamed ana tender flood Is neglected
and water is refused, particularly if cold
The horse sips and slayers in the .Pail.. and
coughs If he drinks. The cough is some.
times severe, and the horse sxhbits symp.
toms of great suffering during its con'inu-
ance. Great weakness speedily follow
these symptoms, and the animal supports
himself by leaning against the sides Of the
stable. The legs generally swoI. .andl en-.
largements appear in the chest aud, body.
The pulse rises to sixty or seventy, while iIs
character is depending on me vtoief'c Sf
the disease"
Ia cases that are severe or terminate ia.
tally, s,reaks of red run through the livid.
ness Of the nose. the legs become CO d, the
haggard the breath is often
siye, indicating liberation ofthe lungs, the
discharge from ,henose bloody, the evacua.
tons loose and shiny and sometimes bloody.
and the animal is speedily destroyed" At
other times, in few days, the cough grad.
ually ceases, the swelling in the glands Of
the throat swell less, me discharge from the
nose assumes more healthy form. and The
animal is able to eat and drink@with great
case. 10 such comparatively mild cases,
the horse soon RECEIVERS his flesh and
strength. and is able to resume his labors
but where the disease is severe, and inflam.
nation of the lungs. or suppuration Of the
glands ofihe throat take place, if the animal
is saved, a long time must elapse before he
Is fit for labor. 2"
When It is discovered that Q horse has
the distemper, he should at once be separa-
tod, If possible, from others, IN order to- les
sen the chances ola spread ofthe disease.
IF the horse is in the infammatofv stage $of
he disease, bleeding Is Indispensable. but
10. till faintness is produced. 1t would be
better TO bleed again fthe pulse continues
quick and strong, than 10 weaken the AMI
nal by a too copious bleeding at once.
With farmers, however, the disease Id its
first stages is rarely noticed, and it is not
until the cough, running at the nose, and
swelli.g Of the glands, show the progress
he disease has made, that its presence is
At this time the horse generally
refuses to eat or drink the nose ia. lost.
lis inAammatory .edness; and as he is-Ios-
ing flesh as well as strength, bleeding had
better be avoided. Should the horse be
cos.ive care must be taken that the bowels
are evacuated by suitable purgatives, and
aloes in doses of two drachms, either in a
ball or solutions, is good for this purpose.
While the fever is high, sweet spirs of nitre
may be given the dose will be about 2
lrachms. A aannel cloth or wrapper
around the head and throat will be useful,
though air must be freely admitted 70 the
stable. In severe cases Of swelling of the
glands, blistering of these places is some.
times resorted to with success. A dis
charge from the nose is favorable symp.
ON Of the distemper, and it should be pro.