The New York herald., 1872-11-25

TO TIM EDITOR OF TIE HERALD:-

TO TIM EDITOR OF TIE HERALD:-
Permit me. through the columns OF your widely
circulated Journal to express an opinion regarding
che epzooty or horse disease, now prevailing to
great extent over large portion OF the country.
The obscury OF the disease and Its destructive IN
nuences on the horse are well KNOWN have, how
ever. FEW remarks to make, In hopes that they may
lead to thorough investigation OF Its causes and
the best means OF combating its destructveness by
scientific men.
Having treated large number OF horses suffer-
Ing from the disease desire to venture an opinion
OF my own regarding its causes. In the first place
the animal system has become SO exhausted from
the long and extreme heat or the past Summer.
from constant and copious exhalations from the
body that the internal vital forces have been unable
to resist the change OF temperature and hence
the poisonous secretons OF the body, instead OF
being thrown out by exhalation, are retained In
the capillary vessels. AS in case OF cold the dis
ease might appear in either local or general
form, according to the state Of the system. That
the spread Of the disease should be so general can
only be attributed to the weakness OF the animals
affected, and is another serious question for men
OF science to contemplate. Although we may not
be willing to accept the theory that the equine
race may ut some future time become wholly ex-
tinct. nevertheless we have sufficient evidence in
the fossil remains OF the mast0don and other ami
mails whose races are now extinct that an epiz0oty
similar to the one now prevailing may have swept
them from the face OF the earth. BE this as
1t may. we have unmistakable evidence that
the diseases affecting the animal races inhablting
the earth have within the past and present century,
assumed different forms or appeared in a type SO
changed thai they may with propriety be classed
as new diseases. and no class OF animals seems to
have been exempt from their ravages. The cattle
fowls are evidences OF this fact, and even man Is
not exempt from periodical visits of the cholera
Throw out these ideas for no other purpose than
to show the Importance OF more thorough fnvcs-
tiga.ion as to their true origin, In order that we
may be better prepared for emergencies In the ad-
ministration Of the proper remedies, and thus
counteract or destroy their effects on animal life.
II we are to be often visited by scOurge such as
we are now suffering from among the most valu-
able OF our domestic animals on whom we are
mainly dependent for transportation purposes,
with no better knowledge of its origin or means
OF diagnosing the disease correctly, or more suc-
cessful course OF treatment than the one at pres
ent pursued, the disease must gam strength at
every temperance in proportion to the ratio OF
its fatality. AS have before remarked the weak
ened state of the animal system generally may
have something to do with the general prevalence
OF the disease and hence 1t would be unreasonable
to expect that such horses as have suffered from
1t and recovered would be any stronger or better
able to withstand other attacks, neither can they
be any better prepared to produce another gener-
alton, to say the least. But what has passed Is
now beyond the possibility OF recall yet careful
study OF the disease, and the publication OF the re-
suits OF observation ana experience, may be the
OF assisting us in the present and prepare
to act for the better in the future.
i have treated great number OF cases Of the
disease and have been very successful not having
as fortunate. am OF opinion, however, that ex-
cessive medication has had more to do in bring
ing on these secondary attacks than any other
exciting cause.
Aconite. one OF our most valuable narcotics has
been recommended In the early stage Of the dis
ease, to reduce the circulation and suspend the
violent action ofthe heart. Its value as remedial
when used inludiciousiy It becomes most potent
poison and is calculated to do far more injury than
good When used in moderate doses, and Its eff
fects are closely watched the patient given suffi
cient rest, and the blood allowed to descend
into the extremities, and commence the battle
for victory and life, In many cases it cannot be dis
pensed with; but when used in excessive doses,
long continued, the circulation is entirely sus-
pended, the vital forces become inactive and refuse
to respond to natures call to drive the morbid or
poisonous secretions from the system, and general
debility ssnt In fact nothing but conn
be reasonably looked for by him who under
stands the effect OF the powerful drug he ad-
ministers. TO ascertain whether this method OF
treatment has prevailed extensively one has only
to make inquiry or to consult the columns Of our
its use.
can give no more explicit or direct mode OF
treatment TO be pursued during the first stage of
the disease than to describe the symptoms and
then leave the rest to the Judgment OF those who
would make use Of such remedies as are Intended
to effect favorable results.
In the first stage of the disease the following
symptoms will be observed First, general de-
preston OF the nervous system; want of spirit or
animation; dry, hacking cough; dryness OF the
skin, with rough, staring coat, oltcn though not
always, accompanied with chills, or the extrcmi-
less a re n M IN
cutaneous circulation and absence of insensDle
perspiration. Alter the abatement of the chill
drowsness supervenes, In most cases followed by
loss OF appetite.
In the second stage Of the disease the cough in
tion becomes quick and hard; the epigottis and
thyroid glands become enlarged or swollen,
while ,nn on the 6ce osner hana none Of the sail
glanders and distemper irritation or infamma-
tion OF the mucous membrane Of the larynx and
making the operation OF swallowing painful and
dificult; great thirst; the tongue and internal
heart is increased; the pulse at the jaw is quick
| and nat, but not full, and in few cases followed
81 r H M
| nostrils, spasmodic action Of the diaphragm and
almost total suspension OF its functions, the act OF
| breathing being performed almost entirely by
means 1.-THE abdominal muscles. II the foregoing
symptoms increase in violence, the patient. gencr
ally dies from Inflammation OF the anected parts
and c0ngested or hepatized lungs.
Cases favorable to recovery are attended after
pous discharge from the nostrls, at first OF yell
owlsh or greenish hue, gradually reducing in guam
tity and becoming lighter in co!or--ncarly white.
The limbs become weak with loss OF appetite;
thick. white coating on the tongue. The strength
and appetite are finally regained gradually with
convalescence. although permanent health and
strength will not be restored for some time when
the attack has been severe We now come to the
third and most important stage OF the disease; for
it must be admitted that when nearly every horse
owned In the city has had-and scarcely any have
escaped-the disorder that among SO large a
number Of animals the mortality them has
been proportionately small. Yet either the
effect OF the disease or the system OF
treatment adopted has been the cause
OF very large mortality daily with the prospect
OF larger number OF deaths before the disorder
will entirely disappear; and when the debilitated
state of the animals which nave been affected Is
fairly considered the truth OF the assertion Is
more apparent. And although larger number
OF horses may recover after a severe attack of