Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-11-08
The New York Board of Health and
the Horse Disease.

The following is The report of the
Veterinary Surgeon to the Board OF
Health of New York City:
NEW YORK, october "a, 1872.
The Canada Rochester or new horse dis
ease as it is called, is not new disease; it
is nothing else but influenza, catarrhal fever,
epidemique laryngile, typhoid laryngile OF
the French, an affection which we have had
and most likely will have again at different
periods. At first characterized by catarrhal
Inflammation of the air passages, it mani
tests itself at present by the symptoms of
mild laryngitis, and this will, If properly
treated, soon yield to treatment.
If, on the contrary, affected animals are
kept at work and exposed to atmospheric
influences the disease will progress, and Sc
rious, if not fatal, complications of the lungs
will take place.
The etiology of the disease is far from be-
ing to-day thoroughly understood; we, how
ever, know it to be more frequent in the
spring or the fall of the year, and it is said
to be most dangerous during the prevalence
of easterly winds
The symptoms will vary, according to the
different stages of the affection, from
slight catarrhal affection of the larynx to
positive congestion of the lungs, all, how
ever, being principally characterized by gen.
eral debility, loss of appetite, cough, dis
charge at the nose, at the eyes, weak pulse,
increase of temperature, weakness of the cir
culatory apparatus exhibited by the condi-
ton of the pulse, which is soft and COM
pressible, sometimes so weak that IL is
hardly perceptible, and in many cases by the
yellow appearance of the visible mucous
membranes, specially that of the eye.
The diagnosis of the disease can be easily
made, and no Well-educated veterinarians
will have difficulty in recognizing, treating
and in many instances mastering it.
The prognosis is not generally serious,
especially if the disease is taken at the out
set, and the animal placed at once under
proper treatment. But as the disease is in
many cases insidious in its course, it re-
QuireS close watching.
AS to the treatment, it is certain that the
conditions of the patients do not Indicate
blood-lettlng, purgatives, arterial sedatives
or setons, etc, especially Cebilitatiug in
their nature; the veterinarian viii, while at
tending to the local symptoms of laryngitis,
by anodyne cough mixtures or pastes, mild
counter-irritants of the throat, such as lini-
ment, mustard applications and, in some
cases, blister fumigations of boiling water,
of decoctions of poppies head or others OF
the kind, watch the general condition or his
patient, it's loss of appetite, of general
strength, and soon he will be obliged to
combine this treatment with the administra-
tion of stimulants, and none Will prove more
beneficial than the carbonate of ammonia
mixed with camphor. These are diffusible
WHICH, III COuHtCUlOu WIFI NCSC-
table tonics, will produce the most magnifi-
cent result if administered in the shape of
pills four or six times a day, as the case may
require. In many cases small doses OF diu-
retics of nitrate of potash in the drinks or in
rectal injections have assisted in allaying the
febrile symptoms. Should the complications
of the trachea, bronchial tubes or of the
lungs take place, more q ctive treatment sug-
gests itself, by the use of more powerful
counter-irritants upon the sides of the chest
or along the trachea.
There is, in the treatment of the present
epidemic, very essential point to take into
consideration, and which relates to the hy-
genic attendance of the affected animals.
Rest, as soon as affected, is essential, as if
the animal is kept at work the disease will
progress, and may prove fatal in few hours.
This is part of the treatment think veter-
inarians ought to insist upon very firmly.
Good hygiene, by proper and comfortable
temperature of the stables, blanketing ac-
cording to the condition of the ambient at
mosDhere, bandaging of the extremities after
a good hard rubbing, wiping of the nostrlls
with vinegar and water, are also recon-
mended; feeding, of course, requires mucn
attention and careful handling-warm gruels,
scalded mashes, and oats mixed with hax-
seed. In few cases, roots, carrots, turnlps
or apples; these to be given according TO the
condition of the bowels.
/ would also highly recommend proper
ventilation, cleaning of the stables, Of ma
nure pits, whitewashing of the stables, and
the free use of disinfectants
Perhaps, forthe sanitarian, the most i'm
portant question is that of contagion. In
fuenza is considered by some authorities as
both contagious and infectious, while 9th
ers, of no less superiority, deny it entirely.
l would say that do not consider 1t as
either, and that the result of my observa-
tions make me still stronger in my belief.
Inic a T lofa nrdQ
Secretary Boutwell, preventing the importa-
tion of horses from Canada. If contagious,
it is too late; if not, it will only increase our
difficulties in the horse trade.
Hoping that the above remarks will be
satisfactory for the present, remain, yours
respectfully, A. LIANTARD, M. D., v. 8.
TIE ahs11rditv of nOst-dating weekly