Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-22

THE CANADIAN HORSE DISEASE has spread
from Toronto all over the dominion, and is es-
pecially prevalent at Montreal, where thousands
Of horses are under treatment the street cars
stopped, and business seriously embarrassed.
The Montreal Gazette of Thursday says: Its
progress since first heard of in Toronto to this
city has been astonishing, thus proving the
terrible epidemic nature of the affection. Tech
ncallY, by veterinary surgeons, II is known as
epizootic influenza, and is occasioned by atmos-
pheric influence, probably having some connec-
ton with the recent thunder storms, which are
so well remembered on account of their unusu-
ally terrifying nature. The disease is not
necessarily, fatal one; so far from its
being SO, if properly treated at its be-
ginning, there wi ii be few deaths. It is
characterized by sore throat, slight swelling
OF the glands, loss of appetite, severe hacking
cough, with discharge of brownish yellow
matter from the nostriS, quick pulse quckened
respiration, great feebleness and yellowness OF
the eyes and mucous membrane, the latter CIV
ing indication of implication of the liver. The
respiratory organs, however, are the principal
parts affected, but the disease being blood poi
son, any animal having had previous disease by
which any organ or systems of organs have be-
come weakened, will at once show symptoms
indicating arrangement of these organs. The
horses quite well or slightly affected should not
be taken out in wet weather, and il they have TO
be so, should be warmly covered. Affected ami
mails should be kept in well ventilated stable
and fed upon hot, soft food easily digested such
as linseed tea, oatmeal cruel, and boiled oats or
barley. The appetite of invalids should be tempt.
ed by carrots, apples, or any other dehcacy our
sick quadruped friend is knowa TO have falling
Tor. In all stables carbolic disinfectant should
be literally used. The number of horses at
present sick may be imagined when it is stated
that 1000 horses are under the skilfHl treatment
of Mr.. McEachran, the well known veterinary
surgeon. Horses were being brought in all day
to the different veterinary stables, aud as soon
as they were attended TO, unless too ill to be
taken away, they were led off to make room for
others. Horses were coming in patches from all
parts of the surrounding country, thus giving
proof that the epidemic is fast making its way
through this province, as it did the upper one
In the many large stables of the city it was easy
to detect the very sick horse from the one bnt
just affected. The very sick animal, with
Its head hung down, palpltanng sides
and streaming nose, was a very wretch
ed looking object. On every side the
sharp dry cough could be heard from almosC
every horse. At the stables of the veterinary
surgeons the sick horse, as soon as brought in O.,
was put in stall with its tail where its head
ought TO be, bit attached on each side to pull
leys above was put in its mouth, the pullevs
were frightened, aud the horses head brought
high up and its mouth opened. Medicine was
then poured down its throat from a can with a
very long neck, while the horse remained inca2-
able of making any resistance, and had nothing
for it but to swallow the medicine with the hest
grace possible. By this speedy way hundreds OF
horses can be 6osed in a day by the surgeons
assistants.