Connecticut western news., 1872-11-08
Tho HOrSa mf1uanzo

There is great dread, at this moment, among horse owners, says Q New York paper, in view of tue very rapid spread and general prevalence of the horse dis ease to such m extent does this panic prevail that many fear that the number of our horses will be greatly lessened. There is no just cause for such appre- hension. The disease yields readily to proper treatment, which should be as follows: Cleanse the stables fumigate with roll birthstone carefully exclude any cold current of air that could strike on the extremities or,spinal column of the horse; steam the animals head, and administer in small warm bran mash sixty grains of tartar emetic and l2o grains of finely-powdered nitre. Let this be given at night, when an extra blanket should be put on the horses bed should be freshly made, and must be deep and warm, so as to invite sleep and insure rest. If the short, dry cough that usually appears at the commence ment of this peculiar form of influenza becomes at all troublesome apply tinc- ture of cantharides to the throat, and along tho line of the wind-pipe as far as the sternum or chest bone. Ventilation should also be carefully attended to foul air, laden with poisonous gases, will inevitably strengthen the disease and reduce the physical powers of the patient. The cause of this present epidemic, influenza, is doubtless due to the presence in the atmosphere of poi sonous gas.; this first causes an irrita- tion in the throat, and where the sufferer is promptly cared for the sickness is over in from three to five days. When the horses affected are not promptly with. drawn from work the consequences are more serious the irritation in the throat spreads to the bronchial tubes, the lungs becomes diseased, inflammation and con gestiou follow, and if the patient does not die, the recovery, at best, will be slow, and the strength and health of the animal seriously impaired. However, even in aggraved cases, where the chest and lungs are engaged, it is bad veterin- ary practice to bleed and physic, the disease is most facilitating, and few horses can recover if further reduced. In severe cases of epidemic influenza the veterinary surgeons of the British Isles prescribe the Turkish or hot-air bath :; in Russia the vapor bath is used, and both are equally prompt and efficient in their action.
 The car and stage horses of this city suffer invariably from all possible forms of equine disease, because they exist under the most unfavorable circum- stances badly fed, worse housed, over worked, and never groomed, they are the ready victims of disease. The skin of the overworked horse acts more than it should, and his internal organs are taxed until the machine is worn out, or rendered incapable of recovery from even slight attack of illness. Farmers should withhold green food from their teams at this time, be they either well or in the influenza. A few carrots fresh dug, about one pound given with the earth adhering once day, and cooling diet during the illness, is all that is ] needed. The drink should be tepid water, with little coarse wheaton bran mixed in it, or linseed tea reduced to a mucilage, or oaten meal water and half cooked linseed tea, also corn in any form whatever,