The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-29
TIE HORSE PLAGUE.
DANGER TO NTEN AID ANIMALS.
A Veterinarians Opinion Of It-"cerebral Spinal
Meningitis Cpizootic,-symptoms
and Treatment.

ment has been created by an epzootic which has
appeared among the horses OF our city. The disease
Is OF great danger, and generally sudden IN at
tack. The reports state that the "horse doctors"
appear to be lost as to the nature OF the disease
that their opinions are contradictory as to the pro-
per treatment to be adopted. DR.. John Busted,
President Of the Veterinary College, in Lexington
avenue gives The following history OF the disease Its
symptoms, treatment and the results Of many post
mortem examinations, which cannot fan TO he IN
teresrng to the general pubic, but more especially
10 the owners Of horses and thGse called upon to
treat them
HISTORY or TUE DISEASE,
The disease has existed for twenty-five years. and
probably, much longer, under variety Of Names
such as ''throat distemper,n choking disorder,n
"spoted feyer' 'putrid fever" .falling Sickness"
"quinsy," &c.-al or which names have been derived
from prominent symptoms presented to observers
wherever the disease has made It's appearance. 1t
has been observed on Long Island, IN New York, OH
the border lines between New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania and in Ohio. Every year We have had spo-
radio which have from year TO constantly
increased IN number. In 1868 the disease was cpl
denc on Long island; It is now iearfully SO IN this
city; there are not, it is said, less than 1900
1900 cases In lie city, This Is probably an over
estimate.
CONFLICTING OPINIONS OF VETERINARIANS.
the OF the disease; another that the kidney or
bladder is at fault; third that the throat IS AZ
fected, and so al 10. with this class Of prac-
tti0ners cause and effect apt to be COMPOUNDED.
If man Is ignorant OF anatomy and histology he
certainly cannot understand physiology. Ii he Is
Hnacquainted with physiology he is 1gnor-
ant or the organs OF lie ana how their
functions carried on, or how medicines
act How, then, Is 1t possible for him TO recognize
disease TO treat IL successiuly2 This. however.
rs the practitioners fault but their misfortune,
as neither the States nor the general government
have provided means by which they could obtain
veterinary education. This or course IS not TO be
understood as rejecting oaium ON persons who
practise as veterinarians without a scientific know
ledge of their subjects There some very ntelll-
gent and wen Informed practitioners "selfmade
men, who win bear favorable comparison with
many who hold veterinary diplomas. Indeed,
diploma Is very little proof Of a mans Skill 1t is,
however, good evidence that the holder Of IL has at
least been Systematically drilled and educated, and
knows or ought to know how to proceed scientific
cally in the investigation OF disease
There never existed disease In which the synp-
toms more directly pointed to It's location where
post-mortems more plainly revealed the LESSONS or
the parts lnvolyed; consequently, among edu.
Gated veterinarians there can be no dinerence
OF opinion as its nature whatever there
may be as to its cause The press Is complain.
ing OF the ignorance prevailing among the "horse
doctors" as 10 tue nature Of this epizoote. OF their
lack OF knowledge there can be no doubt. but who
Is to nlamc2 why should !.nerica be more ignorant
world LeSthe federal, state and city governments
answer why tGey nave not provided Tor veterinary
colleges. Let the wealthy owners OF fast horses,
whose motto Is
"anLLIoNs FOR SPEED,
not one cent for veterinary coileges, let the men,
hers OF the Jockey cubs who FISK thousands on
behind his beautiful team, and the pretty equestrian
bellies the "Drldse pajh''-iet these answer why
they have made no provision for The medical
care and treatment OF their dumb though
las Wealth driven sympathy si from their SeaT
gre railroad and stage COMPANIES VIII be likely to
endow veterinary college. Sell II protection NAV
open their purses;rlags IL nothing else will.
NOW word 10 the physicians: 8, Man Is subject 10
the docto.'s Skill! The rost important organs or
life arc involved IieIniplega and paraplcgia are
portui,iJy offers Tor investigating the diseases
OF the nervous centres which may not occur again
neuro-pa,hologsts Let them hot iorger that, in
Europe, until veterinary schools were established,
in I4 tine naT ~ o. scae WAS pst e sca
science indebted Tor What is known OF comparative
physiology ard pathology; These with y, the micro.
OF medicine systematic aud progressive science.
Prog SoSis-sYulTOMs
There Is no disease OF the horse with which we
are acquainted so 1atal as this one now prevailing,
Animals. being deprived OF the power OF speech,
cannot communicate To us their sensations such as
pam IN the head, spine. &C., winch we know To be
prodrOm0us OF diseases OF the nervous centres: and
pam is not always produced by pressure on the ver
febrp. Consequently the disease usually mas made
considerable progress, and the products OF the in
fammation Of the membranes Of the spinal cor,i or
the extension, perhaps OF the Inflammation TO the
cord Itself inly-iitts) or OF some portion OF the
spinal tract, causing loss OF power OF the muscles
nation That have OF It's existence. The symptoms
by which the disease Is recognized appear suddenly,
tract is first affected. This, rs q rule, is
more marked throughout the career OF
, me cran as Inc disease appear 70 aect r
the membranes Of one part or tue cord, extend to
the REMAINDER ana al later stage Involve the head
in its course. The attack may begin In one OF two
ways, Though their terminating stages in fatal cases
are similar.
form, the animals appear unsteady in action, and IN
the course or a few hours are Frustrated from an
sphlnctnres are relaxed the muscles OF the anterior
parts OF the body, meek aud head VIII usually be
Iogn1 N stae 81 i3nc o spas ~ ana
The pulse Will he found quicaencd but soft; breath
i1e accelerated. me change that occurs between
appafensly S5mpeie. soaaISn q coma Or Insen-
siblllty usually prccedcs death by several hours.
SPECIAL attention ls directed TO
THE SECOND MODE OF ATTACK
affected, While TO to the ordinary observer there APP
pears TO be ittle II anything, amiss with the AMI
NAL. At first thele Is an inability 10 swallow aulds
the course Of few lonrs 10 Il day there 90.
pious discharge Of saliva aud nrc1s from the mouth
the animal may he Continually mas, eating. If the
mouth Is opened food viii usually be found on tile
tongue, between the teeth OF the upper aud lower
laws and between the teeth and cheeks. In TACT lie
bower OF degutition or swallowing ~ now COM
betely lost for solid food, well FOR fu,s. The
respiration IN this STAGE Is normal pulse aiso any
change 1t may be little soft: bowels usually costive
If the hand passed tEe mouth over the base of
the tongue the faucls seem relaxed and bagRy 10 the
feel. lfrressure be made directly Ine spine pain
Is rot usually evlnced and yet wnen the power OF
UeQlurftion Il completely lost one may safely pre-
diet that before long the patient will be pr0sfated,
unable to rise for want Of power behind. When
this condition Is arrived at the further course OF the
disease similar to that occurring the first mode
Of at,acH-touc or tetanc spasns OF some muscles,
while those behind are pafalyzed; delirium, more or
less marked In the different cases: the paralysis ex
tending forward presently; coma more or less super
venlng, eyes CLASSY In appearance ana pupils some
what dialcd. The patient presents no other changes
and death finally ensueS. Thus the disease. though