New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-14
The Mule Disease.

I
medical gentleman, planter in Louisiana,
writes to the Yieksburg Herald with regard to
singular and fatal epidemic among the mules and
horses throughout the country, which has carried
off nearly one-half of those animals in few
weeks He gives the result of his observations as
| follows:
SYMPTOMS.
| These have, as far as | can learn, been uniformly
the same. The first evidence of disease IS mani
tested by restlessness of the animal, the TANKS
soon begin to fill up. the back becomes
| eases a desire to urinate occurs, the mule
droops its head and ears, the latter becoming
cold, frequent disposition to be down and roll,
causing great rumbling OF alter III the bowels.
These symptoms continue from hour TO hour to in
crease Indicating great internal suffering, until
from five to ten hours death comes to give relief,
N CAUSES.
The most that can be said is that the disease was
induced by epidemic influences. At first, almost
every one supposed it to be collie, till the remedies
usually successful III such cases only seemed to az
i Srayate rather than relieve the symptoms. Some
again supposed it was caused by overlooking with
corn, but soon this position was proven untenabe,
as mules and horses running grass, or fed on
oats and hay alone, were attacked and died like
the rest. Others again concluded ii must have
been gnats, which poisoned the mules by biting,
etc. II the latter was true it seems strange that
they should commence and almost end in three
days, all over the country at the same time. Ma
tive mules, creole mules fed on native corn, all
died alike. If none of the above causes how can
you account for the disease say some. / confess
frankly can't account for it any more than &C.
count for the 6 thousand and one' pestental dis
eases that from time to time play such havoc with
everything sentlent Still am willing to venture
an opinion, and until more satisfactory proofs are
given to the contrary, will let the matter rest here
After observing the symp toms in many cases.
) the effects of remedies and having made several
very minute post norton examinations, | believe
the disease to have been species of cholera. If
so (many will ask,) why not the usual discharges
OF g rice water " from the bowels, as in man? To
such will answer, why not a mule horse walk
upright like man, SO as to favor the outpourngs
Of the contents Of the bowels, thus being added
with the force of grayitation or the hydrostatic
pressure? They do not, however. The animal
retains horizontal and not a perpendicular rela-
ton to the earth hence the liquids retained,
and were found in small quantities in the small in
testines, and nothing else could be found there
! through an extent of twenty-five feet except
wind, the former filling the CALDER fully half, if
not more, and the latter expanding it to its utmost
capacity. There was no evidence of constipation
in any part of the alimentary canal. Hence, the
regular puTisaltic motion of tie bowels must have
been paralyzed more or less.
! TREATMENT.
: No treatment, so far as l can learn, gave any
satisfactory results, and so disheartened became
most planters that they generally, after a few
frutless efforts turned their sick mules out to die
0 as soon as attacked. The following were among
the various articles tried without avail: NuX
b vomica in whisky; bleeding in the mouth; spirits
turpentine 10 lard bleeding in the neck till faint
ing occurred. In some few cases this seemed t.
give some hope, but failed so frequently AFFORD
@ relief that it was soon discontinued
\ As soon as became satisfied that the disease
4 was cholera, | adopted the following treatment
; with tavorite mule, after trying other remedies
without avail. The animal, was satisfied, could
!. live but few hours, unless relieved, and thert
seemed but little at stake This the last mule
T., attacked Of ours and know not how far the
1Frn1l hn Mo Ita ntD1i
: now we'll and at work, and has been for several
y days.
! Prescription-Tak audanum, one tablespoon
full spirits of nitro half tablespoonful: compound
tincture of myrrh two tablespoonful; whisky
Il half pint; tepid water, half a pint; mix anG
drench. After giving, the mule ceased TO lie dowr
and roll seemed very sick and restless during the
Il night, which, however, soon wore of, when the
: appetite returned, and the cure seemed complete
i Here the disease seems to have spent its force
1t is to be hoped So at least for such ysitation
i are vel! calculated to Try mems pocketbooks ant
e many planters are nearly ruined pecuniarily.
The services Of the poor dumb brutes are badly
needed, can the loss be repaired with safety
. once, there being general distrust at repairing
il, at the present time, nor until it is fully ascer
. tanned that the disease has left the country, aut
: when that becomes established planters will b.
s greatly behndhand
) Hoping to hear from others, I remain, respect
n fully, JOHN w. YOU'VE, NJ. d.
d vIoToR HUGO IN lTIseHEF.-The London cor
e respondent of the Tribune tells the following ex
cellent story of the great novelist and poll eiau
: Going in to be shaved one morning, | said
q" Well, Monsieur Brasser, howis business to-day p
: q Excellent sir, excellent; in fact almost more
n thauI can attend to. Balls and parties everywhere
d Here, you see, is list of thirty ladies, whose
heads are to be dressed between and evening :
Dropping in at Brasser's few days after. lasked
Z. =" And how did you get on with your thirty lad.
l. | customers the other day?n " Don't speak of it
a n ~
n just lost dozen or so of good customers, al
V owing to Mr.. Victor Hugo " But how did Victo
v Hugo have anything to do with it?' Why, thi
! was the way OF it, sir: Five minutes after yol
y left, in he came and seated himself in this YER
) chair. put the napkin about his neck, and wa
/ on the point of putting my brush to him, when
Is suddenly waving of my hand, ne cried out wal
Y a mnute.' And with that he took out his penc
n and began fumbiug in all his pockets for some
5 thing he did not find. Then, all at once. seeing
Of sheet of paper the table there, he took posses
lie sion Of it and fell to writing In spite Of tile hurr
y ! was in was willing to wait for him to finish
4. but he, without paying any more attention TO m
d than though had been at the other end of tn
a town, kept scratching on, stopping now and the
m to bite the end of his pencil. Write away, | sui
ID to myself bat if you can read afterward you ar
a lucky one. 1t a horrible scraWl sir, yO
r may believe me. And they prefend he is goo
Is writer! Then said To HIM respectfully, 'whe
10 you are ready, sir.' In second says he, an
t. on he goes with his scribblc, stopping for mimi
to look up TO the ceng and then al it again;
~ meanwhile, you understand Will brush and son
~ cup in hand and ready to burst. Finally vat
p tured to say, beg pardon, sir but am oxtremcI
4 busy to day oh, busy are yOnF says he, $50 a.
4, ~ aud with that lie got up aud weAt ont. 'Gu
Il have forgot your hat, sir said l. Why, to b
sure says lie with smile and clapped it on, an
Il went away without being shaved.
~ Now, buys called 60 my joGrneymen, " 70
il have not minute to lose; you will % straight I
sr the addresses | give you. The LIST here--nr
- moment ago. ~ said one of the bow. Are va