Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-10-07
ZEE aogsE EPIDEMIC

AS the horse disease is making its
appearance throughout the country,
the following from distinguished
veterinary surgeon to the New York
Sportsman will be well worth a careful
reading
"The appearance Of the influenza
among our equine friends is now the
subject of great deal of anxiety and
speculation as to its results among
owrers Of horses.
Gas it is an affection with which we
have to deal more OF less every fall, and
sometimes in the spring OF the year,
and there being many popular errors
regarding the cause and effect Of the
disease, thought it might be interest
ing to give your readers some facts re.
gaiding it which have probably to a
great extent been overlooked.
"What is influenza It is poison
ed condition of the blood, the poison
existing in the atmosphere, and being
inhaled in the inspired air. Influenza
occurs in several forms. Sometimes
the part most affected is the mucous
membrane of the windplpe, as in the
epizootic three years ago; sometimes
the mucous membrane Of the throat
and nostrlls are the points Of attack, as
in the present epidemic Occasionally
the entire air passages are affected A
severe type was seen in the epidemic
Of cerebro~spinal-meningitis four years
ago. But in whichever form it exists
the cause is essentially the same, the
only difference being, probably in the
species of plant or spores inhaled.
"When it is known that over 1900
species of fungi were observed by
Fries, an eminent Swedish naturalists,
in very small space, and that some OF
these species, according TO the same
authority, are no larger than the l-lO,-
0O0 of an inch in diameter, OF about
one third as large as the blood corpus
cles. it is not to be wondered at that a
quantity large enough to poison the
system may be absorbed. Wet sea
SOUS are also known to be favorable to
the growth Of all vegetable matter, and
especially fungi, and it is found that
epidemic attacks OF influenza are more
common in wet seasons and climates
! than in dry atmosphere; for instance,
they have it to much greater extent
ana ,nore severe in England, where
there exists a very much more humid
atmosphere than in our own climate.
! ':But why does it not attack all
horses alike? The answer to this guess
ton probably lies in the fact that each
animal has It's own ldiosyncracy, and
in some systems the soil would be more
TT for the existence and propagation Of
those organic living vegetables than il
others. .-..-
"Ihe effect Of these poisonous fungi,
when taken into the system, according
to Mitchell, is to produce a narcotic
effect, and is not predominant symp-
tom IN influenza. The sleepy, dull apr
pearance is due TO this cause; then there
is more or less general fever, Sc The
symptoms need not be fully described,
as they are too we'll known already.
"W hat is the best mode Of treat
ment when looked at from this stand
point? As there is great tendency to
TO congestion and stoppage of the cir
/, culation in the small blood vessels, and
a consequent coagulation of the blood,
partly from the diminished nerve force
produced by the effect Of the poison on
the brain, and partly from a febrile
state Of the whole system, we can only
give such agents as are known to have
solvent effect on the blood, and also
try to excite the nervous system to a
healthy degree. Ammonia is such an
agent, and it is well known the SAL
ammoniac is one Of the best agents we
possess for the treatment of the dis
ease it also acts slightly on the kid
neys, thereby eliminating portion OF
the poisonous matter from the system.
This agent, when given in half ounce
doses, three times a-day, dissolved in a
gallon Of water, in which form the pa
tent will drink it, acts almost as q
specific in this disease. If there is
much cough apply mustard to the
throat, feed the animal on bran mashes
for day Or two, apply clothing to the
surface Of the body, and give them
plenty OF fresh air, and in few days
your horses will be all working again
with no bad effects from the disease
yours, J. NJ. HEARD, V. S."