The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-04
q New Ilersc Disease.

Our dispatches Of Monday made men
tion of the appearance of a new horse
epidemic in New York. In referring
to it, the Tribune of Tuesday says:
An apparently contagious disease,
as yet without name. has broken
out among the horses i'll the stables
OF some of the stage and car compa-
nies, and though it first made its ap-
pearance some two or three weeks
ago, until now it has not attracted
much attention outside of the stables
affected. The disease, the symptoms
of which have been the same in near
ly all cases has not been confined
to any particular condition of the
stock affecting all alike, and in its
attack gives little warning. At first
the animals exhibit s;up IT and great
weakness; when seized ON the road
in some cases reaching the stables
with difficulty. For time they re-
fuse all food, the eyes become swol-
len and a copious discharge of yellow
ish matter follows. In some instan-
ces the eyes have become entir, ly
closed. These indications are accom-
panied by swelling of the fore and
hind legs and some times other por-
tions of the body, though usually the
swelling has peen confined to the legs.
Little mortality has attended the
epidemic thus far: with prompt medi-
cal treatment the appetite soon re-
turning and as rule the animal re-
covering from the attack in the course
of three days or week.
The stables of the Third Avenue
Railroad have been the most seriously
affected. The disease made its ap-
pearance some three weeks ago, when
a large number af the horses refuse
their food and a liberal use of the
whip was required in making the
customary trips. OF the two thous-
and horses in the stable, probably
one-half have been more or less af
fected, and at the present time over
two hundred are said to be unfit for
use. So generally affected were the
horses at one time that it was found
necessary to draw off Il number of
cars, both on this and the branch line
to the Grand Central Depot Even
now number of horses are being
worked who show evidences Of the
disease. Tie med cine has consisted
of a mixture of sulphur, aconite anC
has proved very excellent remedy
Fresh cases are occurring every day
and the number as compared with
those recovering has somewhat in
creased during the past day or two
A large majority Of the horses in the
Second avenue stables have been af
fectcd, but not as seriously as those
on the Third avenue road and under
the homeopathic treatment have gen
orally quickly recovered SO as not tC
interfere with the work of the road
As yet there has been no appearance
Of the disease in the Fourth, SiXtl
Eighth or Ninth avenue roads, mol
in those Of the Broadway and Sew
enth avenue line. beyond somewhat
Of Discrimination to eat by the hors
es recently observed. The herses o
the stage lines appear to have beer
most seriously affected and it is stat
ed that a number of fatal cases have
occurred. Little information cOulC
be gained at these stables last even
ing. The disease has been attribut
ed to overwork of horses and the il
ventilation of some of stables. Thi:
explanation is made by those persons
connected with stables yet unaffected
and perhaps the fact that it has not
yet made its appearance in any OF
the private or livery stables, 50 far a:
known, in measure sudstantiatc:
this theory.