The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-05
TIE EQUINE EPIDEMIC.

Number OF Gases Among the WORKING
AnimaIs-Noeligsnce and Brutality
The Causes OF tho Disease-1ts Symp-
toms and Remedies.
There is, unfortunately, no use In trying any
longer to conceal the fact that the horse
malady has appeared in the City OF Charleston
to an alarming extent, and that majority OF
the work horses and mules of the city are
more or less sflected. 1t has first appeared.
as is very natural, among the animals en-
ployed by the drsymen in hauling the heavy
freights that have been passing through
Charleston during the past few weeks, and
almost every one of these animals is now Sick.
The season has been particularly severe upon
the draft horses lately, having been alternate
~ damp and cold; and In addition to this, 1t is
found that the treatment of the dray horses
and mules by the ignorant drivers who have
them in charge, Is brutal In the extreme.
The testimony of all who have had
any opportunity OF observing the treatment OF
dray horses and mules by their negro drivers
in this city Is unanimous to the effect tnat
these drivers exhibit degree OF reckless In
humanity toward the animals under their
charge that Is appalling, and that calls for i'm
mediate measures OF prevention. 1t Is the
common practice Of these brutes OF drivers TO
urge their animals to their highest speed until
they arrive at the wharf where they are des-
tined, and then, If they have to walt TOR lew
minutes or an hour or two for their load, they
leave the animal standing smoking not ana
without any covering, while they 60 OH TO I'LL
themselyes with bad whiskey or to anuse
themselyes in such other way as best &C.
cords with their low tastes. This pro-
ceedine of course results In the animal
catching q severe cold, and the prr6a-
bilIty La that 1t is In this negle~t
of the most ordinary precautions that the ex-
plsnation of the present widespread sickness
among the horses Is 10 be found. There are
other orueltles practlced BY these brutal ne
eroes toward their horses and mules, that
call for severe reprehensIon and punishment,
but the most common of their crimes, and the
one which has brought the present sickness
upon the stock of Charleston, is the one here
mentioned. The result of tbls neglect and
of the trying weather and hard work during
the fall season, Is that almost all Of the work
ing animals are suffering from colds, &C., and
very many of them are laid up with tt same
disease that is causing such general havoc at
the North. The symptoms that have been OBJ
served among the affected horses here are
q cough, In some cases 80 hard ss to APPARENTLY
rack tho horse almost to pieces, slight
swelling about the glands of the throat,
and q profuse discharge from the nostrils
of Offensive matter which is sometimes
thick and pale, and sometimes more watery,
and streaked with green. In some OF the
cases the symptoms are like those of the
strangles, the horse exhibiting great pain and
difficulty ir coughing, and making choking
noise during the operation. In other cases
the disease resembles the quinsy, except that
there is less swelling about the glands OF the
throat The seat OF the disease appears TO be
exclusively In the throat, and In no case have
the lungs of the animal been found affected.
This Is encouraging as showing that the dis
ease Is not deeply seated, and 1t indicates
also that 1t ls not likely to prove very fasal.
In fact most of the cases, 30 far encountered,
have been treated with great success, and
have readily yielded to careful and judicious
treatment. The process of cure employed by
Mr.. B. McInuis aad other experienced veteri-
nary surgeons consists first, In clipping
the throat and applying q simple but
powerful blister. This causes almost
Immediate relief of the affected parts, and
affords local outlet for the diseased matter
without Compelling 1t to find its way ont
through tho nose, mouth and eyes. At the
same time the doctors give doses of aconite,
bryoney and assafetlda internally and rec
ommend diet of boiled fax seed and other
nutritious food that Is not too heating This
treatment has been found very eficacious,
aid 1t does not interfere materially with the
working of the animal In moderation. In
fact, a limited amount of work or exercise is
found to be good for the horse II the precau-
ton is observed of unhitching the check rein
30 as to give the horse his head and allow him
to cough freely. In addition to this general
treatment of the affected animals there are
number of specifics advertised, which are
claimed to be very ef1cacious. One of the
best OF these remedies is Noises famous horse |
and cattle powders, which is said to be a per-
feet preventive as well as cure of the prevail |
Ing disease.
The condition of affairs at the principal |
stables in the city were yesterday reported az |
follows, but It must be remembered that in |
these public establishments there
are hundreds Of smaller stables throughout |
he city, where the dray horses and mules are
Kept and where the disease is reported to be
ar more prevalent than In the sale and livery
stables:
AT, Wsllsee's livery stable, on Chalmers
street, out Of ten horses employed i've were
found to be suffering with colds, &o., and sew
eral of them had all the symptoms Of the
At Kesselrs livery stable, on Chalmers |
street, there are seven horses, Of which two
are sick.
At McPhersor's livery stable, on Chalmers
street, there are four horses, and one of them |
Is seriously aillng.
At Graham's sale stables, on Chalmers street,
here are about forty head of horses and
mules, all reported to be In good condition.
Messrs. Holmes & Chisolm, draymen, en-
nlov ahont sIxtoon boraoa apd nnlaa and all \