Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-12
OOMhU y ~
The Horse Disease.

When special aud unusual disease occurs
among men, it is called an Epidemic, from two
Greek words, Epi upon,a demos the people !;
and when special and unusual disease makes
its appearance among inferior animals, it is
called Epizootic, also from two Greek words,
F.pi upon, and zoon animal. Hence the pre-
sent malady is called Epizootic, just as small.
pox is called Epidemic The distemper now
prevalent among horses, is Influenza or Epi-
zootic Catarrh and it ls typifed by the pecu-
liar nature, form and degree OF the violence Of
the disease. Untrequent diseases are decided
to be mild or malignant, according to the num-
Der of deaths resulting from them and when
a prevailing disease readily yields to proper
treatment, and not many die from it, it is said
To be mild, but if it is not very submissive
10 treatment and many cases terminate
fatally, it is considered malignant. As
comparatively few horses have died, and
great many recovered, the Epizootic under con-
sideration, may be safely termed mild, and pos
scsScs none OF that virulcnce which marked the
visitation OF the same disease during the years
of 1886 and 1910. Correspondents of newspa-S
rcrs have invested this malady with mystery
iy giving to it variety OF meaningless names,
aud thereby, distracted public attention from
an intelligent understanding of its true charac-
ter and Importance.
The disease is undoubtedly contagious or
catching, and is easily communicated trom one
horse to another, though not from the horse to
man. Ii is very much influenced by the wealth
rr and hy far the greater number OF cases oc-
cur during a cold wet spell. The disease com
mences In the horse just as what is called Sc
we're cold begius in man, and like severe cold,
may be more or less severe, and soon get bet
ter, or go on from bad to worse, having the
constitution or Sounducss OF each horse that 1t
n ahora nfor
scs whose lungs and air passages are sound,
usually bear the disease best, while those which
have suffered previously with inflammation OF
the organs Of respiration suffer most when at,
tackled by it, 10 mild cases the horse is fever.
lsh indoent, and has cough which is dis
tiuct but not very loud. The attack may be so
slight that the groom scarcely notices anything
wrong with the horse until prevalent dis
charge from the nose reveals the nature OF the
attack. But unfortunately the disease is not
always So mild, and too frequently assumes q
bold and terrible appearance from the very
beginning When it thus sets in, it comes on
with chill or severe shiveripg, which is i'm
melately followed by quickuess OF the clrcula-
ton of the blood and general fever. The mu,
Gus membrane of the nose becomes hot and
drv, and the eyes are rcd and weeping, and
cough soon announces the irritation of the wind
ripe and lungs Soreness of the throat is evl-
dcnced by the horse gulping and guiding his
water or food when he attempts to drink or eat.
His breathing is quick and audible, and has
fanks hcave in consequence OF the distress and
pain which he feels in respiration. HIS appe-
tite is diminished, or entirely lost, accompa-
MED by early and remarkably we'll marked de-
tlity, arising from both oppression and depres-
sion of the nervous energy, and before the ex-
riration of the second day, if the horse is NOV
cd from his position, he staggers as he walks.
he gets down, he is unable to stand upon his
feet when he is forced to make the effort to 90
50. There is heat and some swelling about the
glands of the jaws, but no enlargement OF any
consequence. 1t is entirely disease OF the or,
gans of breathing, and the mucus membrane OF
the nose. mouth, throat, Wlndplpe DronacnlaI
tubes, and the substance OF the lungs are all
more or less implicated IN the general lnnaln-
nation; and when this ensues,, the olsease
takes on its most fearful form, and so great IS
the prostration that it is impossible to tell
whether or not the animal will live from one
dav 70 another. About the second day after
the beginning of the cough, pusllke discharge
begins to flow from the nostrlls.
This is sometimes fetid and very profuse
and tenacious, and adds to the difficulty OF
breathing through the nostrils; and as the air
masses through it into and out OF the lungs,
pives rise to loud and continuous rattllng.,,
The limbs become cold, painful and stiff, and
Of en- greatly swelled; and the feet are tender I
and not unlike their condition IN founder ihe
duration of the disease is about two weeks
and in this time, the horse either gets rapioly
better or siuks and dies before the expiration
of a week, and if the disease does not teinl- i
nate either in resolution or death Wlthln tnese
periods, the disease is apt to proceed LOT al
uncertain period, until the Irritation becomes
50 general or extensive. that it IS almost a mat
ter Of impracticabllty to tell wnicn p4r' VI htn
is most diseased. :,
The treatment of both the mild and severe
form Of the disease, is matter OF great lul,
nortance: and, upon it's correctness, Will depend
:, favorable or unfavorable termination OF the
case. The owner of horse suffering with the
disease must do for the animal that which he
wonld do for himself, or advise his TREND to
do, we're either laboring under severe 'nnq1 =
rnza. viz: Stop his bushes, and place himself
in the best possible condition to AVOID those
Influences or causes which would ilkely ieaa 70
an increase of the disease, and angmenCiits II
danger. The disease Is always SUDDEN ~ i.S
attack; and in mild cases, nothing more is le ne
liz Stable. protcct his body by a blanket
and Jo not allow his stable door to open
IN manner that will expose HIM TO: a
nnrtbc,st wind. Give him, once or t"lcc
= Iay mash made by pouring hot water upon up on
bran, little cut hay, and plenty OF grucl1 VIII a
but little or no water. All his orlnSs Siiouiu
be rs warm as he will take them, ana DucASs ~
of cruel should be kept constantly oy n,snrn IIs @
Ahont % tbe second day, the cold breaks, as 1t IS
c,llrd and the discharge makes Its appearaueei
o''I' Va hn nns,rils The heat and tightueSs about
the INC nose is very much relieved BY rubbing osa the
r"maO sa, 'lU OIL LA and allowing the horse to inhaie,
ion'".'' ir"m nosebas o steam produced by pouring
;I;n, llG q w,,c, mon bran Sneczing to clear the
u"sn ",." 3av a be excited by blowing little req
""nncr ',u, 9 into the nostrs This treatment may nay
pvrr1' ~ rcrnn,;uucd nue. once or twice day until the M
Lorse begns to convalesce; and graaual RI