, 1872-10-24
The Canada Disease I'm
doubtedly in Chicago
r1ty Cases at the West Side
Railway Barns.
What Will Occur if the Disease
Becomes Epidemic.
Chicago Stables the Worst in
the World.


Views Of Two Experienced Vet
Urinary Surgeons.
Rayages of the Disease in Eastern Cities.
Barely two months ago the press Of the coun-
try announced the outbreak, among the horsesof
the Canadian cities, Of a disease which, though
not fatal Was so prostrating in it's effects and
rapidly spreading, as to cause serious apprehen-
'sions in the cities aud throughout the provinces
generally. ThiB disease continued to 1avage the
Dominion, and the daily reports from Canada,
and especially from Toronto, became more and
more alarming, as the epidemic assailed 1arge
proportion Of the stock Of that city, none being
exempt in livery and boarding stables, sale
stables, or even private stables.
THE PROGRESS OF THE DISEASE
has for the past two or three weeks been watched
with intense interest, fears that it would Cross
the border and infect our own horse
stock being generally entertained. This
fear, IS the telegraphic dispatches
in TIE TRIBUNE yesterday show, have
already been realized. In New York City, De-
troit, Rochester, Boston, Buffalo, and, indeed,
through Western New York, the disease has ap-
peared almost simultaneously. It is described
as being sort Of infuenza, and ID classed by
veterinary surgeons under three heads, CO.
tarrhal, rheumatic, and stro-erysipelatous.
The form in which it has caused such havoc in
Canada and the East is the catarrhal. It's first
noticeable symptoms are flow Of tears from
the eyes, a watery discharge from the nose, and
general prostration, followed by cough.
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN.
The announcement Of the outbreak Of the dis
esse in the Eastern cities in TIE TRIBUNE
caused profound sensation throughout Chicago
yesterday. The keepers Of livery and boarding
stables were especially exercised over the dis
covery, and inquired andously as to what
course to pursue. 4 reporter inquired among
the various livery stables, express companies
barns, and other places to ascertain what pre-
cautions hsd been taken to anticipate the sp-
proach Of the dreaded disorder. He learned
that none had been taken in the majority Of
stables, but here and there course Of disin-
fecting had been commenced, and Was to be
kept up. Field &; Letter have disinfectea thor
oughly with chloride Of lime. but did not fear
the epidemic. It would appear that the disease
had not az yet made its appearance, but it is to
be feared that the pleasant belief in our immu
nifty from disease must be rudely dispellea.
TIE DISEASE IN CHICAGO.
About three months ago several horses in the
West Division City Railway Company's barn, on
Western avenue, were taken sick, the symptoms
having been as follows: The extremities we're
cold, q discharge ran from the eyes and nose,
in some cases there was hemouhage from the
lunEa. Complete prostration followed, and
cough set in. The visible portions Of the mu-
cous membranes were highly injected. The first
symptom noticeable WAS q trifing "dumpish-
ness displayed by the poor beasts, who ap-
peared to outsider merely little out OF sorts,
and such that person not accustomed to horses
would overlook entirely. In no two cases were
the symptoms entirely alike, but they embraced
the above, with petmutations and combinations,
until in three months 50 Of them hare been
taken sick. By judicious attention and
treatment, they have nearly all been rescued,
only three having been lost, one Of them from
disease incident to that from which he had been
cured. There is one mare at the barn at preH-
ent whose death is hourly expected.
She hiss been suffering from what Or. J. D. Tut
hill, the veterinary surgeon, describes to be
pleur-pneumonia- combination OF pleurisy
and pneumonia, and yesterday afternoon she
had been ailing for 36 hours.
DE-, TurHuL's EXPERIENCE.
Dr. Tab 6o Lad sttensa % shdp p' SIX 9sa borses
facts, which will be found valuable by those who
oWn hoIses-
The disease from which the poor animals in
the barn have been suffering, is an epizootic Of
with the horse disease from Canada Mr.. Tuthiu |
could not say. It was not, in his opinion, in t
fectious, but epizootic, or epidemic, Il the term
be preferred. His reasons for believing this to !
Ia ,n+ go E%,a5 4-v
and that all appear to take the disease ut once,
not apparently from one another, but from some
subtle atmospheric poisons. II is not new |
disease has BEEN treated i the 1ld
ere subjected to it throughout the year,
but especially in the spring and fall.
Like other similar diseases. the severity Of
The different epidemic assaults ia subject to
great variation. One season brings mild and
almost imperceptible attack Of it, another viz
ulent and destructive one, such as Seems to
have come upon the continent.
THE DURATION OF THE DISEASE
varies as much as the premonitory symptoms.
Two horses that died in the West Side stables
were sick for 36 hours only. Others have been
sick for weeks. Before horse is thoroughly
conyalescent, aud fit to work after an attack, a
month or six weeks must pass by. ALI have |
been under treatment; some are SO far recov- |
cred as to be at work again, the disease having |
left no permanent traces upon it's victims. |
Some Of the cases have commenced With |
an attack upon the throat others were COM
plicated with bronchitis in others pleurisy, and
in others again, p1euro- pneumonia. Great pros-
t1ation has followed in every case. Sometimes
rheumatism has set in. /
TIE SYMPTOMS
are typhoid in character, and require instant |
attention and prompt treatment, otherwise there |
is danger that the disease will have obtained
such headway that recovery is doubtful, even il
possible. At the same time, DR.. Tuthill DOES
not regard the disease as fatal. While he cRn-
not positively assert that it is the same as that
which has been go destructive in the East, he |
has strong belief that it is. The great NOR |
talty that has occurred he attributes more to
the want OF proper treatment (and consequent |
improper treatment) than to the disease itself.
He had treated fifty cases, and all but three Of
his equine patients had recovered One
of these latter had recovered from his
attack and was getting along nicely,