The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-20
THE HORSE DISTEMPER.

HOW var 1t Has Extended Its Ravo4e1-
The Number OF Victims In tho Stables
of Some OF tho street Car Lines-The
Character OF the Disease and Its Ready
Yielding to Treatment.
The disease which appeared among the horses
belonging to the street car lines on the east side
OF the town two weeks since is still causing con-
siderable inconvenience In the stables OF some OF
the roads. Since attention was particularly d.
rected to the matter, on the Third avenue route
there have been Frustrated with the epidemic
over 400 horses, but no deaths have resulted from
It, Superintendent Field yesterday assured q
HERALD reporter that the same number of cars
were being run as ordinarily but they
had been compelled to buy new horses 10
take the places OF those In the "nOspi-
tai" In his opinion they had gone through
with the worst OF the epidemic, and It had been
observed that rest and care would bring around
those lightly attacked in two or three days, and
the worst cases in week or ten days at the ut
most walk through the stables in charge of
veterinarian Montross and others developed the
fact that yesterday there were still under treat
ment in the hospital about $50 cases, all of which
were suffering or had suffered from the well known
symptoms OF loss OF appetite, stupor, swelling OF
the eyes and legs and extreme weakness, though
many of these were nearly recovered. Whether
the disease is what is commonly called the ''pink-
ferred that in their judgment, it Is not.
1t resembles the epizooty. but, fortunately,
is not attended with the fatal results OF the latter
disease. The treatment at these stables is sulphur
aconite and belladonna in homeopathic doses,
with change OF iood as soon as the horse is at
tackled. There are 1,800 horses here and the sta
bles are excelently arranged and well ventilated.
The horses OF the second Avenue line have also
been visited by the epidemic. MIR. John Murphy,
foreman of tue stables first discovered 1t on the
IA hnt ttnhf nat
were only suffering from colds, OccasiOned by the
large doors OF the building being lett open too
new disease had taken hold of them. and since
then $50 have been attacked, but these cases
neadE aG There mere cs srs
the disease Not Single car has 1een taken OF
been single trip lost. If there could be a lew
days OF fine weather, In the opinion OF the FORE
man, the number OF cases would be materially les
sened.
Mr.. Harvey Delervergalan, foreman of the
stables, and Mr.. Jackson, veterinarian surgeon of
the Fourth Avenue line, said that OF the $50 horses
In active service they had twenty-five 'aid up"
with the catarrhal affection. Some OF the horses
were very weak and lost flesh with astonishing
rapidlty, but when on the mend they "picked up'
last and there had not been any relapses as yet
not speak very encOuragingy oil the prospect for
speedy abatement OF the disease, but wished Tor
hne weather. None Of the cars on the route had
been taken or nor the trips reduced because OF the
sickness.
superintendent Bdg0Od, OF the sixth avenue
line reported that the epidemic had not reached
their stables. The horses were quite healthy, and
oil the LOO the company owned there were no
more than the ordinary cases OF Illness, and hardly
that, as the treatment that the stock receives on
this line cannot be improved upon. For two or
more years the President OF the lfne with the
Superintendent had been experimenting upon the
amount OF work which 1t Is SAFE to give horse be-
fore a street Car and not break him down before
his time; and to this end the company mad pur-
chased 30 horses more than they actually needed
il team OF horses could make two trips day
and work every day in the week: but that
was not possible, and they are seldom or never
worked more than five or five and q half DAYS. A
tour through the stables Ound everything scrupu-
lousy clean, ana the many hundred horses ap-
parently In the best OF health. "By," ''retIredn
veteran, who had worked before a car SIX or seven
years Tor the company, was seen, and IL has been
est mated by Mr.. BidgoOd that he has travelled
1852 miles over our paved streets He Is stilene
for any work IN a long time.
superintendent LeadDetter, OF the Broadway
and Seventh Avenue line, and superintendent
Wilson, OF the Eighth Avenue road, were positive
that neither oil their staDies had been visited by the
'pinkeve." Their horses each OF the lines owning
about J. 100, we've In u very healthy condition; the
usually found in any Stables. The Ninth Avenue
line has also escaped, out the Tenth Avenue
road has been a sufferer, and fresh victims are
reported daily, but none are sick more than two
or three days. The horses OF some OF the stage
Ines the express companies and lew large
livery stables are not exempt from the ravages OF
have followed. livery one talked to upon the SUBJ
ject agreed that the epidemic readily yields to
treatment, and this assurance Is exceedingly salts
factory.