The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-17
THE EQUINE DR0PsY.
The Dropsical Symptoms Still Prevailing
Condition Of the Car and Stage Horses-Sev-
eral Valuable Trotting Horses Dead.

Yesterday morning the horses in the streets had
much healthier appearance, and Judging from
the general report, New York has seen the worst
OF the epzootiy. There are certainly horses dying
every day in the city, but in the most instances
they appear to be animals that have become afflicted
with the dropsy. This new feature OF the disease
has many very alarming symptoms and has proved
fatal in numbers of instances. II appears to be
the result OF cessation or the circulation OF blood
which, getting clogged up in the arteries,
IMMENSE SWELLING
in the head and limbs, one Of the main symptoms
OF the malady. horse THAT exhibited these syml,-
toms yesterday had leeches applied TO nm, and in
short time the leeches dropped or dead showing
the poisoned condition of the blood. Awei-Snown
veterinary surgeon said yesterday that he believed
the doses OF aconite that had been SO gcncr-
ally administered have had something to do with
the dr0psy. Ac0nitc has a tendency to quiet the
pulsation OF the heart and thereby stopping the
forcing OF the blood through the arteries, causes
it to SETTLE and results in these dropscal swell
ings. He said that out OF thousand horses AG
had treated not one case had turned into dropsy.
HE also mentioned 4 bad case OF dropsy which he
was called in 70 see on Friday morning. and In
which instance he administered pill containing
iron with the most beneficial results.
THE JAPANESE CONSUL
in this city appears TO have paid considerable at
tentiun to the progress OF the epiz0oy throughout
the country and finally became 80 impressed with
its import ince that he engaged Dr. j. s. Ca1tanach
a weli-known veterinary surgeon, to write his
opinions of the disease and the best means OF pre-
caution and cure to be adopted IN case the malady
should break out in japan. This article il to be
sent over to Japan 70 be published in the
o%rn Stnb,. o. .as IN the a1eyen5
steadily and gaining strength aud condition. Every
means are being taken TO strengthen the unfOr
tunate animals, so that they may I've ready for the
on SOFT diet, such as chopped hay, which is gen.
orally given in mash, with some prepared COM
as tonic. The Third Avenue stables appear to
have been the greatest sufferers during the disease,
thirty horses. The Second Avenue have escaped
with very few losses, and the Fourth avenue line
state that they have lost seven horses. The Sixth
avenue line have lost altogether twenty-one horses,
three of which died with dropsy. The superinten.
dent OF that line states that they have had several
the worst The Eighth, Ninth and Tenth avenue
lines have been t0lerably fortunate In escaping
many losses, and the Broadway and Seventh avenue
line add about eleven to the death roll.
THE STAGE LINES
appear on the whole to have had rather rough
rapidly getting into condition, ana the foreman
says they have only lost six horses. They had sew
era cases OF dropsy, but did not lose horse from
that branch OF the disease. The Madison avenue
line have lost about fifteen horses aud the Filth
avenue and Twenty-thrd street stages are also
sufferers to a considerable extent.
THE TR0TTING STOCK
have nearly all been afflicted with the disease, and
there some very valuable trOtters sick with the
drOpsy. Commodore Vanderbit's celebrated trOtter
Mountain Boy died on Friday. There appears,
however, to be difference OF opinion as whether
this well known horse succumbed to the effects of
cholic or the prevailing epizooty. Mountain Boy
one OF the best trotting horses in the country,
having made his mile In 2:20A. Lottery, owned by
Mr.. Samuel Truesdell well known as q 2:27 horse,
got by old Hambletonian, died yesterday OF the
disease. Western New York, trOtter that has
made his mile in 2:29 owned by Mr.. Dennis0n, has,
like Dreadnaught, from Pattersons stable, succumb
ed to the disease. It was also reported that g. L.
died yesterday. There are also number of other
valuable horses whose lives are in precarious
condition.
The lall Of snow and consequent bad travelling
on the different railroads affected traffic consider
ably last evening, as the car lines did not like
running their cOnvaescent horses in the bad
weather. The Third and Fourth avenue lines took
Off number Of their cars last night, much to the
Inconvenience of the numerous housekeepers who
were down town doing their Saturday night mar
keting.