Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-10-30
The Horse Epidemic in Montpelier.

llh HuuN llANhtN uoio'N NV N1NN''N'N'''1
irst symptoms Of the disease
ITS FIRST APPEARANCE.
On Tuesday week, horse of John e.
Adams, which had be.n of on trip Of four
Or five days, returned to the stable with every
appearance Of bad cold, which, in fact soon
urnod out to be the dstemper which has
,cen running iiot through the country, and
which had already manifested itself in the
Northern tier Of the towns in the State bor-
lering on Canada line The infection then in
PRODUCED spread SO rapidly that by Wednes.
lay night every horse in the stable was
coughing.
VISIT TO THE STABLES.
Our reporter first visited the stables of Mr..
Adams, where the disease first made its APP
poarauce, and where it has probably reached its
height The equine hospital is filled with
restless, coughing horses, in all stages of the
disease. There were fumes Of sulphur, car
bolic acid, aud other dsinicctants, which
were freely used to purify the air and assist
the horses in their labored breathing. But
one Of Mr. Adams horses appeared to be
seriously Ill, and that one was pronounced by
some Of our best veterinary surgeons to have
a complication Of diseases, something moro
serious, perhaps, than the epidemic itself;
but with that exception, as far as our reporter
could judge, all the iour-footed patients APP
peared to be doing "as well as could be OK
pectcd under the circumstances
\ short call on Mr. Dudley showed that
Mr. Adams was not alone in his misfortune,
but that the distribution of the disease was
very fair aud impartial, for all his horses had
given evidences Of the infection.
II. s. Boutwell, said they commenced to
cough Friduy night, and now every horse in
my stable is coughing" In Mr.. Boutwel's
stables are several carriage horses Of our citi-
zeus, which are suffering under the epidemic
aud Of twenty-five or thirty horses in the
stable that on Friday morning were well, not
one at this time Of writing, Saturday after.
noon had escaped the disease.
As far as we eau learn, the disease has not
yet made its appearance in the country, OIL
very generally in the village, outside of the
livery stables, but of course it is liable tC
show itself generally at any moment. A
any rate, it would be wise for every horse
owner to take extra precautions as regards
the cleanliness Of his stable, and the purity
Of the air which his horse has to breathe.
THE SYMPTOMS.
The infected horse first gives signs Of th
disease in constant coughing and hacking
which seem to come not so much from an
inflammation Of the lungs as from trouble wit
the throat or bronchial tubes This is 500
followed with mucous discharge from tn
. nostris, which is offensive both in appear
ance and odor. Some surgeons say this di.
charge is poisonous in its character, and ad
wise those who have to be about the horses I
be very careful in getting it on their hand
or skin. This advice is certainly safe and
would be wise for those who are engaged i
treating or caring for the horses sufferin
under the epidemic, to err on the safe sid
and be careful In more aggravated an
dangerous phases Of the disease, this is fol
lowed by labored and stertorous breathing
and eventually by death. But III the genera
u run Of the disease it goes no farther than tn
second symptom described, and is not danger
d GUS at all in its character
THE TREATMENT.
There seems to be no settled or uniforr
method Of treatment, and every man has t
select from contradictory advice whatever hi
own common sense dictates as eilicaciou
Among the remedies that we have heard su.
gested are the rubbing Of the throat tho
oughly and constantly with turpentne FRI
quont doses Of tar given with the food, Ii
free use Of mustard plasters the moderat
use Of sulphur and other fumigants; an
there are many other things suggested b
ompirics and quaoks who are always delightc
with a chance to display their skill on ere,
lures that cannot express their disgust
quackery, aud can only patiently submit
y what is inflicted upon them but We hay
only named those that have been proved to |
Of value IN the treatment of this and disease
, Of like character. 1t is also necessary to /
very careful with the horses when Gonzales
r cent, and to guard them against getting W,
, or the dangers Of cold, as the history Of tn
> disease in other places shows that relapses a
most invariably end fatally.
Another Diplomatic Victory.
Il I 4 At. IL O