The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-12-05


The following article, written BY R. T
Trail. NJ. D, for the Philadelphia E.ea
Jag Star. presents the Hygiene view Q
the subject:
An epizootic disease has prevailed
among horses, ard thousands are disa
/ bed III all parts vi the country In be
h5tii OF the Society for Tie Prevention O.
| Graeity TO animals. / wish to put ON re
cord protest against the unnecessary
cruelty of poisoning horses because they
are sick. think this is a mistaken 2rac
tice. both IS regards human beings and
I horses. | am unable to iind any law in
! science, or any result OF experience, that
iustsEes the administration Of poisons
to anything that has life-human, ami
mai or getabie-because it is sick. All
hat is really useful in any case Of pesti-
lentiai disease is Judicial nursing, and
| the more drug medicines are relied on,
the more good nursing is apt to be neg
| lected
The recent epidemic among horses was
clearly catarrhal fever, and quite analo-
gous to the influenza of human beings
the most widespread epidemic ever
known. 1t consists essentially of an IN
fianiaIlon Of the mucous mem rane of
the nose and throat, with more or less
fever. and some 0cgree of congestion of
the lungs 1t differs from the "pleuro-
pneumonia, which prevailed extensive
j. among hogs and cattle some ten years
ago. only in thc fact that, In the latter
60 plant, the lungs were the seat Of the
inflammation.
There Is always a similarity between
the prevalent diseases Of human beings
and domesfleated animals, for the reason
that both are under similar morbific In
fuences. The present season has been
nnexamp pied for at least twenty years in
che prevalence of catarrhal affections, In
some localities taking the form of chill
fever, dunb-ague, or bilious fever
The late Governor Seward died of chill
teyer-or Of the medicine. All Of these
affections are forms OF influenza, modi
fed by differences Of habits and condi-
tons.
| have been acquainted with the par
tlcolars aud various methods of treat
ment of several epidemica among horses
and cattle. and have seen, and. heard.
and read enough to convince me that
the less animals are dosed and drugged,
the more likely they will be to recover.
nave hhONil audEy N2Iu2DiG horse
d0ctored TO death in few hours.
Ii any one understand how hui
man being suffering of a bad cold, With
cough, nasal discharge. pain IN the chest,
and soreness Of the throat, should be
treated, he onght to know how to man
age horse affected with the same symp-
toms. True. we cannot administer The
warm foot bath, the vapor bath, nor The
sweating pack, so conveniently to horses,
nor Is it necessary. As the horse is ac-
customed 10 more simple habits, and
can live without artificial heat, more
simple remedial measures will answer.
But any animal, when sick, can be treat
ed hygienically, and that is all that is
necessary.
We can at least follow the good advice
which HlppocTates gave more than two
thousand years ago: IF you cannot do
any good you can at least avoid doing
harm We can refuse to bleed, with
hold the drugs, and give nature
chance. The sick horse should hare
clean room away from the mia3ms of the
stable, protected from chilling winds,
but with "a abundant supply of fresh
air.
Once day the whole surface should
be Sponged with tepid water, and rubbed
thoroughly dry with flannel cloths, and
afterwards covered with warm blanket.
He may drink as much pure water, but
not very cold. as he will ); do not force or
coax him to eat until he inclines to.
Keep a few good apples before him con-
stantly; They are better medicine than
anything that can be found in any drug
shop.