The Republican journal., 1875-11-11
The Horse Disease.

just now, when the epizoOtic disease or
horse influenza is again on its travels
among US, the following, from one of the
best English agricultural magazines. will
be interesting to our readers. We give it
with more freedom than we ought to do
because it commends itself to our judg-
ment. after experience with the writer's
OWE horses during the time when the
epidemic first appeared;
Influenza is distinguished from COM
mon cold by several peculiarities which
are worth special notice but is necessary
TO start with the promise that in popular
language lhe two forms of disease are
constantly coniounded it is in tact quite
sufficient for colds and coughs to be very
prevalent IN district, to give rise to the
impression that an outbreak of influenza
has occurred. One unmistakable charac-
ter oI influenza IS its tendency to assume
different types at certain seasons. Some
times the catarrhal form is universal. at
others the digestive organs are principally
affected, and the malady takes the shape
Of bilious fever Rheumatic ntiamma-
tion OF the Joints is an occasional speciality
ot the disease, and sometimes extensive
Suppuration occurs in the areolar tissue
Of various parts Of the body, causing
deep seated assesses, which generally
end fatally.
The most serious aspect of influenza Is
that in which the blood becomes charged
with effcte products. In these cases the
bloody corpuscles are broken up, and
putretactive fermentation, attended with
the formation OF bacteria and vibriones,
takes place. This form of disease, how
ever, is always more OF less dependent on
bad drainage and bad quality OF food and
water Influenza. as it most commonly
appears, is a catarrhal fever, attended
from the first with great prostration, and
in this particular it is distinguished from
an ordinary cold, in which debility never
occurs until the animal has suffered Sc
yerely and continuously ior some time
The discovery of the peculiar character of
the specific disease is of the utmost impor-
tance, because the treatment will differ
materially from that which may be adopt
ed in common colds. chiefly in the greater
degree Of attention which will be paid to
the animal, and the careful avoidance of
all causes which may tend to increase the
weakness.
Symptoms Of the ordinary type of in
tluenZa are sufficiently marked, even in
Nt'c S''Aiy ot'.9C, w iCHUCI Luc uCLCCGlOIl vi
the disease comparatively easy; the horse
Is iull and languid; the eyelds droop, and
frequently watery discharge issues from
the corners of the eyes Sometimes swelling
Of the eyeiids and nostrils is the first stare
OF illness which is perceived. The appe-
lite is either lost entirely or is very irreg
uar the horse walks with difficulty. and
often staggers from side to side. If the
digestive organs are affected, the compli-
cation will be indicated by a yellow tnge
of the mucous mem branes OF the mouth
and eyes; attacks of abdominal pain will
show that the intestines are implicated in
the disease. Rheumatic swellings are
generally among the sequaln OF infu-
enza, and owing to the pain and lame
ness which they occasion, they materially
retard the animals recovery The treat
ment OF influenza OF the ordinary kind
may be summed up in the short sentence
good nursing.
The sick horse should be placed in a
good box, we'll ventilated, protected from
extremes of temperature. Soft food
mashes and green provender-is desirable,
and water may be allowed in any quanti-