Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-12-03
agricultural.
The Preralent Disease in Horses.

The Preralent Disease in Horses.
Tho Ithaca journal publishes an article
10y DR.. Law. veterinary surgeon at Cor
nell University, aud lecturer at the Mas
.achussu. Agricultural College, from
which VIC make the following eXtract;-
This is nothing else than the epig iotlis
oatarrh or influenza of horses, which. at
irregular intervals, sweeps over enurS
continents, prOstrsting the whole equine
creation.
II is specific lever OF n low iypo'
marked by great nervous proStration ana
weakness, and localizing itself in the form
of an inflammation, usually oil the mu
cous membrane oi tho respiratory pas
sages, but also occa,ionally OF Other Or
gan.. In the present epiglottic the pros
tration and debility is less extreme than is
usual, and The disease may therefore De
held to lie ol a mild type.
Usually there are the signs OF sore
throat with cold in the head; 10 the more
severe symptom. are those OF bronchitis !
The pulse is weak and rapid. the haaks
lean, the nosuiIs diated, and there is II
loud Wheeling in the chest in still other
cases the lung substance is involved, or
there is investing membranes (the pleu'
re) and disorders OF the liver aud bowels
even will superyene.
Horse Owners should, Therefore, be
very careful TO watch for the first symp-
toms of illness, and TO lay the patient oil
work at once, place him in clean airy.
sweet stall, clear OF cold draughts cIothc
him warmly, aud support well on warm
mashes until in y fair way for recovery.
Benefit will usually accrue from stcaming
the nostrils with warm water vapor, but
medical treatment will be more honored
in the breach than the observance, unless
under skiIlul aud judicious direction. In
most eases demanding medicine Il vii!
require 10 be o supporting and stimu'
lating nature throughout.
1t is generally believed that the causes
in influenza are to be sought in some in
scrutablc condition Of the atmosphe 20, but
this time. .honored doctrine must 10 &C.
ceived with some reservation in the light
of facts. Veterinarians are famlliar with
the fact that it often spreads in stable
or town from newly imported animal.
1t is quito common, too, TO ind two ci1ies
simultaneously or succ.ssiySly attacked
while one midway between tho two os
cape. Buffalo, Lockport, Rochester, Ca
nandaigua, Geneva, Syracuse, Boston and
New York arc suffering. while Batavia.
Auburn and Utica have till now escaped.
The morbiGc cause undoubtedly spreads
tor some distance on the air, but it usu-
ally proves most fatal in the vicinity ol
sick animals. Intcmrerate states OF the
atmosphere, too, by favoring develop
ment of diseases of the air passages, will
prccipilate its eruption, though unequal
to generating it anew; and close, filthy
stables. exposure, over work, &C.. VIII
not only favor il. development, but In
crease the mortality.
Again, the disease has often proved
pansoolic, attacking nII animals indis'
crimnat-y, but in such case, the horse
has generally been the frat sufleror.-
This was notorously the case in l776 and
1888. Iti.not impossible, therefore. thai
The human family may have lis turn, and
attention TO tho health OF both man AMI
bea>, tx particularly desirable.