Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-02-04
THE EPIZOOTIC--ITS NATURE AND
TREATMENT.

The following valuable article on the
horse disease, its nature and treatment,
is from the pen of well-known citizen
OF this place-a gentleman Of rare scien-
tific attainments
The prevalence of the horse disease,
the inconvenience and loss which will
fall upon business men at isolated poiBts
throughout this State, and the many in
quiries which are constantly made in re-
gard to it, has induced me to communi-
cate the following history Of the disease
and its treatment as pursued by medical
men in the East. The result of micros-
copic and post-mortem examinations
have proved that in severe cases the dis
ease is allied to diptheria in the human
family, and that, in mild cases, it is SIM
liar to bronchitis or influenza. The first
symptoms are the same as in slight colds
swelling of the glands under the angle
of the jaw, dry cough, and watery dis
charges from the nostrils. In the ma
jority of cases the disease continues in
this stage for two or three weeks, and
then the animal rapidly improves, until
health is re-established. In severe cases
there is a chill, followed by high fever,
great difficulty in breathing, the animal
standing with the feet wide apart, head
extended, and the ncstrils dilated, indi-
eating that the windpipe is involved.
| Extensive liberation also occurs; the dis
charge from the nose becomes thick,
greenish, and occasionally bloody; the
animal becomes so Frustrated that he
cannot stand on his feet, and will change
his position from side to side, appearing
to be in great agony, and death soon ter
inmates his sutferings. The above his
tory is sufficient to show that at first it
is local disease, similar to epidemic
catarrh or colds among men, and that
through neglect of exposure it assumes a
malignant type, the blood becomes poi
soned by the absorption of matter in the
system, as in glanders, and at this stage
treatment has proved of little avail
When the horse shows the first symp-
toms of the disease he should receive
immediate care, be protected from damp
and cold by warm blankets; the die
should he nutritious. consisting of sof
food, on account of the pain in swallow
ing, such as corn meal, bran mashes
with liberal allowance of salt. Whel
high fever and cough, give from one-hal
, to one teaspoonful each of nitre ant
, powdered anthony every day mixet
with the feed; if early prostration. US
tonics, as colombo or gentian. If tn
5 animal refuses to eat the medicines cal
: be given in ball with soap, or used as
= drench with faxseed tea. If the ear
and feet continue cold use hot mustar
draughts externally, applying to the nee
e and chest, or apply equal quantities G
9 turpentine and tincture cantharides as
. liniment to excite free action OF the Skin
Avoid all prostrating remedies, especial
5 bleeding; horses treated in this wa
S have generally died. If necessary t
: work the animal, his head and nee
;, should be protected by hood extendin
Il back Of the lungs, especially in wet an
J, stormy weather; this is of as much in
J, portance as blankets. Do not give ice
; cold water to drink, and do not let thei
q all drink from the same vessel, as I'll
= disease may bs contagious; and if S
:, healthy horses will thus become infecte,
. Use little chloride of lime in each ma
:, ger, as a disinfectant; and it would
4 better if every stable were thoroug
i white washed. Although we have n
! the power to prevent the spread of eI
c demic influences, yet the above simp
- treatment may enable us to mitigate Il
- severity and lessen the mortality Of Il
~ horse nest. the epiZootic,