The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-24
The New Horse Disease.
tFroR Tho PhllA. RecordJ

Nt'StH VIZ ullA. 4ksCOIuJ
Now that the Canada horse disease ia
definitely crossed the line and invaded tn
States, 1t 10 greatly 10 be feared that
may favage the whole country. On Fri
day, the 18th, a Toronto dispatch an
nounced that tho epidemic had extended
throughout the Dominion, seriously inter
rupting the business Of the country; tina
the street cars In Montreal had sloppet
running, more than three hundred horse
being sick in their stables, and that thC
farmers were unable to bring grain L
market from the same cause. The mex
day, the 10Th, telegram from Buffalo
made known that the epidemic had bro
ken out there also, and was prevailing tC
an alarming extent among tho horses o.
tho city. This morning We publish dis
patch from Rochester, saying that the dis
ease Is there, and that "Iully one.halt O
the horses in the city are affected. A few
fatal cases have occurred. It made 1T
appearance on Thursday. The stree
railway company have onehundred horse.
sick, and have taken of some of their cars
The livery stables have stopped business
Every horse attached to O'Brien's circus
which came here from Canada yesterday
Is SICK" Under such circumstances, the
spread Of the disease far and wide may be
looked upon as highly probable.
II becomes important, therefore, that in
all cities prompt measures should be
taken with view TO meeting the disease
II It comes, battling II as far as possible,
and providing for the proper treatment OF
sick horses while 1t lasts. Now, the most
Important point to note Is that this dis.
temper Is rarely fatal, The dispatch
from Rochester says that "a few fatal
cases have occurred" but as fully one.
half OF all the horses In the city are al
tltcted, 1t will be seen at once that the
mortality Is remarkably small. It Is not
even impossible that 10 the fatal cases
there was conjunction of some other
disease or weakness. In the Toronto dis.
patch was also said that "the disease is
not often fatal, but recovery is slow" A
paper Of that city describes the disease as
q sort OF catarrhal fever, the result OF
some atmospheric influence, as Is shown
by its sudden appearance over a large ex.
tent of country, attacking all kinds OF
horses, old and young, in good condition
or poor. AS to the symptoms, the pre-.
mOnitory ones are said 10 be "dullness, a
staring coat, q watery discharge from the
nose, speedily followed by sever.
hacking cough; the pulse is quicken.
oil and the mouth hot; the nasal MEM
branes are injected and the ears and legs
are unnaturally cold; the discharge from
the nose increases and becomes Of a green.
ish.ycllow color; the breathing is inCreas.
ed, and, in some cases lahored and Sc
we're" 1t is maintained, however, that
good care and rational treatment will
prevent q fatal termination to the disease.
A severe attack Can often BIZ traced to
overwOrk or other facilitating influence.
1t is added that affected anim4ls should
be ALLOWED pure air, with u liberal diet
Of nOurishing and easily digested food.
The stables should be well aired daily
and thoroughly ventilated; and it is also
advisable 10 use disinfectants, as the
chloride OF lime or csrbolc acid. When
the throat is very sore. causing difficulty
in swallowing, mild embrocatiOn should
be applied, and the fever allayed by mild
tebrifuge medicine" These precautions
should be remembered, and we would
further suggest that, on the approach OF
the disease to any city, the board of
health, the society for the prevention of
cruelty, or other authorities, having pre-
viously studied the subject, should pub
lish, in simple and untechnical language,
careful directions for the treatment OF the
disease, so that the least loss and annoy.
ance possible may be caused TO the com.
munity.