The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-11-30
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
[FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

New YonK, October Doth, 1872.
The prevailing topic of conversation and specula-
ton just now, is the horse distemper; and there is
reason why it should excite remark and apprehen-
sion, for the trouble ID widespread and serious.
Yesterday afternoon and Saturday the streets pre-
sented q strange sight, almost q holiday aspect; the
usual d~eafening roar on Broadway was hushed, only
the sound of feet on the side walks breaking in upon
the almost Sabbath stiffness. AS the rattle of a cart
or stage was heard, eyes would be directed towards
the approaching sound and the remark made,
. there's a horse :" 1t is a serious trouble in the
city, and has been aggravated by the almost con-
tinual rain falling during the past week; business is
retarded and interrupted, travel stopped and the
occupation of thousands suddenly taken away.
Nearly all of the stage and street car lines have taken
off a part, or all of their conveyances. and the few
that are still running are crowded TO suhocation.
Until the horses were suddenly removed, it was i'm
possible perhaps to imagine how greatly the life Of
the city depended upon them. Ladies stayed at
home, so the clerks in the retail shops along Broad
way and in all the fancy goods stores, lounged idly
over the counters, or stood in the doors waiting for
customers; the wholesale houses ceased business
because of a lack Of city demand or means of send
ing to the country; the shippers were reduced to
extremity, and in some instances men were put in
harness and slowly dragged along miniature loads;
those houses along the water front were fortunate,
and by that means kept up a semblance Of business
and activity during the day. The steam tugs in
the harbor lay at rest or simply brought vessels in,
the outgoing shipping being compelled to wait for
the rest of the freight so slowly coming to them.
Any who had horses stood a fair chance to make for
tunes, for fabulous prices were offered for Transports
ton; one man in the writer's hearing offered So
to a teamster If he would take a barrel of 90 glycerine
from the wharf to his store, but it was refused with
the remark, "no sir, | shall be lucky if / get my
horse home tonight Ii is remarkable how this
trouble has affected business of all kinds all over the
city and suburbs. Sunday, very few Of the car lines
ran, and consequently the down town churches in
both New York and Brooklyn were thinly ses ed,
while those in the outskirts were unwontedly f. ed.
In many places public prayer was offered for a stay
of the plague, and many an illustration was made TO
enforce points in the sermons from the prevailing
trouble. Joking inquiry was made of those affected
with colds or similar trouble" Have you the horse
distemper?" The Sunday morning papers were full
of it. Especially the Herald, always a sensational
sheet, was more than ordinarily filed with absurd
tiles having a semblance to the truth. Other cities
as well as this are overwhelmed with the unexpected
difficulty. In Boston some Of the leading houses
have impressed oxen into the service, and mules and
donkeys are in demand, though they too are subject
to the disease. But n word as TO its character, and
| will have done. First the horse is afflicted with a
certain heaviuess and lassitude, succeeded by severe
coughing and sore throat, accompanied by an ennis
sion Of a yellowish substance from the nostrils. This
is followed shortly by q species Of lung fever, and
death. But it is said that the remedies are simple,
and if applied at an early stage-a sure cure. The
animal should Of course be kept from work be
kets. As for remedies, Bonner has been using the
following: A powder composed of potash and tar
tarized anthony, three ounces-divided into twenty
four powders, two powders a day being admins
tered the nostrils should be kept sponged out with
a solution of vinegar and camphor and a trife of
ammonia. Soft feed is given, such as mashes and
cut feed hay should be cut, and no dry oats. If
the disease be severe at first, two small doses Of
aeonite should be given the first two days, one at
morning and one at evening . for the sore throat
some have used a counter irritant composed of mus
tard or liniment 1 should have said the powder
above referred to is composed of one part of tartar