The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-24

order to give the President an opportunity for
the reconstruction of his Cabinet on the 4th of
March, and for new departure in our foreign
relations.
Tho Horse Discase-Increase OF Cases.
Another day adds a great number of cases
in this city to those animals already reported
as suffering from the prevalent disease. In
the absence of any official statistics on the
matter we are forced to compute by approx
nation. 1t is calculated that from thirty
to forty per cent Of our beasts
of burden in New York are afflicted, and this
would, on moderate calculation, give us from
eight to ten thousand horses in the various
stages of the malady. Already the effect of
this untoward visitation has become visible in
the lessening of the number of cars on several of
the city railroads. From Brooklyn, Jersey City
and Hoboken we learn that the disease has
manifested itself in q form precisely similar
to that in which it is exhibited in the New
York stables. That it is not confined to car
or stage horses but has invaded the
stables of the rich and those of
the more pretentious lverymen, goes
to show that its attacks are not deducible
from either overcrowding or overworking, al
though we are certain that these conditions
will in all cases help fatality Of result when
the disease has once exhibited itself.
The news from other points in this State is
very discouraging At Syracuse it was proving
fatal in great many instances and causing
immense obstruction to business At Roches-
ter it was equally fatal At Lockport and Buff
faloits effects were painfully felt. Boston, lying
to the north and east and on the line from
Canada, seems to be suffering from the partial
suspension of traffic; and the disease had
broken out at Springfield. A despatch from
Philadelphia informs us that the disease had
not yet made its appearance in that city,
and, so far as we are informed it has not
appeared south of Jersey City, This gradual
from Canada, where it was first reported, may
| either mean that it has been communicated
by direct contagion in the transport Of
horses thence or that it is due to q condition
of the atmosphere sweeping southwark in
kind of plague storm and charged with the
it has not appeared in important places on the
line between here and Canada would incline
to the former belief There is still another
possibility which appears to have been over
looked-namely, that it may be caused by
noxious exhalations from the soil, due to
warm and damp atmosphere. The inhalation
Of this miasma might act on the equine tribe
after the fashion of this disease, Just
as certain soils are sure to produce fever and
ague in human beings In the doubt which
hangs around its origin there is, however,
| good sense in the order of Secretary Boutwell,
to the Collectors of Customs at Burlington,
Rochester, Cape Vincent and Port Huron to
forbid the importation of diseased horses from
Canada.
Although New York has not suffered severely
as yet from the prevention of the carrying bust
ness or passenger travel, it must be remem-
bered that the disease only showed it's head
here on Sunday last Fatal cases have not
yet been reported, although some are
| believed to have occurred. The disease
| would not appear to be necessarily fatal, but
by the withdrawal of many thousands of these
! useful animals from their everyday occupa-
tons great inconvenience and actual loss can
happen. In view of the fact that rest or
abstention from taxing the horses strength
is recognized on all hands as one
| of the prime points of successful treatment,
the pecuniary gain by preventing an absolute
loss of the property will counsel all horse
| owners to give animals who exhibit the
symptoms of the disease the needed rest
The downright cruelty Of any other course
will, we are sure, tend to content
those who may be put about at
| the loss Of ride Or some other