The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-30
The EplzOOty and wha. to do AbOu.

Communication In tho Philadelphia Ledger)
Epizooty Is name implying disease
prevalent among animals, as epidemic /:
q term applied to a disease prevailing
among the human species, Sometime
an epizoOty confines itself 10 one kind oI
animal, and sometimes TO another. Thus
horned cattle, sheep dogs and cats may
each separately be attacked by an epizO0
~. The proximate cause OF such disease
is doubtless something Of q very subtle
nature floating In the air at certain sea-
sons and times, independent OF any local
cause, though doubtless modified by local
conditions. Such diseases, though no,
contagious or propogated from one AMI.
NAL to another, may, under some circum-
stances, become so.
The epizooty prevailing at the present
time among horses at the North, IS CA.
tarrhal affection or influenza, attended by
tebriIe symptoms Of more or less violence,
the seat OF the disease being the mucous
lining membrane Of the nasal and pulmo.
nary organs. Though seldom fatal to
sound horses kept under good conditions,
1t proves severe and even occasionally fl.
tai TO animals kept under unlavorable
conditions, and especially to such as are
touched in the wind" or labOriug under
any unsoundness Of the organs in the
chest
Close and dirty stables impair the con-
stitutional strength Of the horse, subject
him to disease, and lessen his chances of
recovery. In carrying out proper venti-
lation, care is to be taken equally against
too much cool air, especially strong
drafts, and too much warm air. Profcs.
sor Youatt, in his excellent treatise on
the horse, lays great stress on the regular
ventilation of the stable, and says that
"the return to hot stable is quite as dan.
gerous as the change from o heated atmos.
phere to a cold and bitirg air. Many a
horse that has Travelled without injury
over bleak country has been suddenly
seized with Inflammation and lever when
he has Immediately, at the end of his
journey, been surrounded with heated and
foul air" And in another place he
adds, "Ot nothing are wc more certain
than that, iu the majority OF the maladles
Oi the horse, those OF the worst and most
fatal character, directly or Indirectly, are
to bc attributed TO the unnatural heat of
the stable"
In regard to the treatment proper for
this horse disease, it will be found that
horse doctors differ in their views as
much, and even more, than physicians
called to treat human diseases. The lat
ter have one great advantage over the
former, 0s their patients eau explain their
feelings and lead TO better understand.
ing OF the nature Of their ailments, where
as. veterinarians, although they are capa.
BILE Of judging of the nature Of many Of
the ailments Of animals, are left in the
dark about others. Wherever any doubts
exist in regard 10 the exact nature and
proper treatment, an appeal should be
made TO the dictates of common sense, one
Of which is TO resort 10 nothing in doubtful
cases which might do harm. Many vio-
lent remedies are rcsOrted 10, which, IN.
less the nature Ofthe case is clear, instead
OF being curative, lessen the chances Of
recovery. Among such measures are:
lndiscriminatc bleeding, drastic purginr,
and artificial sweating, either or all OF
which tend to reduce the strength Of the
animal 30 as to lessen his reCuperative
forces. The sick horse should be made
as comfortable as possible, and, if in
cllned to take food or drink, supplied
with emulCept dCcoctions and thinmashes
made OF ground faxseed mixed with
bran or meal, with as much good hay or
corn blades as he wants, but little or no
grain until decidedly cOnvalescenl, A
little saltpetre, or EPSON or Glauber's
salts may be added TO his drinks or
mashes. The propriety OF active drenches
in the treatment of this epizooLy is at
least question able.