The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1872-12-19
Msefnl aud Curious.
THE HORSE DlAEASE.
Gel. Boswell Gives the Res1ls 81 HIS OSservo-
items Among His OWn Morses.

Gel. Boswell Give. she Ressls q his Observs-
siess Among His Own Msrse..
Nature or the Di.se.per AID Cesrse ef Treat
mens Fesnd - be he Nest Elective.
The horse disease has now become SO prevalent
that il deserves the serious consideration of
all equine owners. From what l learn from
different parts Of the country nearly one-half Of
our entire stock Of horses and mules are now
affected with this disease, and there is strong
probability that the remaining portion will not
long escape it. Business of various kinds received
a severe check, and hundreds of owners are anx-
ously inquiring what they shall do for their sick
animals. To these inquiries there are varions
answers; probably owing to the fact that in nine
cases in every ten the animal would recover with
out any medicine whatever, or with frequent
dosing with any mild medicine; and would also
recover with a reasonable amount OF dosing with
medicines that would aggravatc the disease The
result is, that when horse rtcOvers. any medi-
cine he may have taken. good or bad, mild or Sc
we're, is recommended as specific remedy for
the next ease. Whoever claims tn be able by the
of medicine or otherwise, TO cure or check
this disease, before the fever has had its run, in
my opinion is labOring under n mistake.
This disease is an Inflammation of mncus mem.
brane of the nose, throat, windpipe and bronchial
tubes, which throws the animal into fever
generally reaching its height in from eight to
twelve days. This disease seems to eliminate in
severe cases sooner than in the lighter ones. We
have twenty-four cases in our barn, the majority
Of which have reached the twelfth day,
while Others have been affected longer. -Four Of
these cases have been very severe ones. They are
now all slowly recovering but neither OF the four
the appetite has been good, and they wonld run
and play when turned ont. After short run
they would show signs Of distress, and their pull
sations wOuld increase fifty per cent. As q gen.
eral thing this disease is frst indicated by cough
ing, and q slight discharge at the nose The
inyU l,a fraOu anfau SlurinD the
first few days, OF only occasional; not to exceed
four five times day.
The pulse will indicate the presence Of the
disease as quick rs anything. horse in his nor
NAL condition has from 16 to 10 respriatiOns,
and from IS to 40 pulsatiOns to the minute; the
average of our common horses being about thirty
six; while high bred horses have sometimes more
than this number. To feel the pulse, place the
hand the side just back of the shoulder, little
above the elbow, taking the pulsations direct
from the heart. During the second and third
day the pulse is generally between 40 and 80. If
the horse is driven until he is wet with prespira-
ton, abont the time he is coming down with the
disease, the fever will come on much more rapidly,
and will, Judging from what have seen, produce
a severe In severe cases there is generally
occasional chill and the legs will be very cold.
An extra blanket should then be put on, and the
legs thoroughly hand-rubbed and bandaged. In
severe cases when the pulse is from 20 to 80, and
the respiration from forty to fifty (as there would
be danger of "blood poisoning it would be well
to give teaspoonful Of tincture of iron in half
pint of water every two hours A sharp lini-
ment externally applied to the nose, throat, and
windpipe, is no doubt good thing
While this disease is prevailing we should load
light and drire slow and give our horses the best
of care. BY so doing can insure light attack
of the disease. In the lighter cases, think
horse might he worked in corn gathering without
injury. Colts or horses that are running on pas
ture, or in the stOckfied, should remain there,
although they have the disease. AZ long as they
move around briskly and eat. If dull and slug
gish, put them in the barn and keep them warm.
he, think-FTrsf, That even in lighter cases. the
animal was not as able to perform labor rs his
appearance Indicated. SecoRd, That after his
apparent recovering he will be playful and seem
to he full Of vigor when in fact he u neither able
to perform heavy labor, nor long, or fast drive,
and these deceptive appearances will lead injudi-
cious owners to kill or ruin for life many valua-
BILE animals.
think next springs work will prove that many
horses have not fully recovered from the effects
of this disease. The object should he to see them
well through this fever and fnlly recovered, with
ont any drawback, so that they may prove sound
and vigorous the coming spring.
Those persons who understand the condition in
which the typhoid: <e~slet fever leaves the In
man patient, will he hest prepared to meet the
exigencies of the eouvalescent horse. We are
feeding all our horses lightly ground feed. oats
and corn ground together and mixed with an
equal part of bran. We give them walk of
about a half nile twice day. We think they
now all slowly recovering. but do not expect
to them fully recovered for the sixty days
NC. BUswEIL-
Princeton, Nov. Goth, 1872.