Connecticut western news., 1875-10-22
Tho Prevailing Horse Disease.

|
 Poquonnock.r a, Tho Prevailing Horse Disease.
 A disease somewhat resembling tn
 epizootic of two years ago, broke out il
 this region week or ten days ago, but veteI
 mary surgeons are of the opinion that tn
 disease is not of the same nature as it predecessor. They trace the origin of tn
 trouble, in the present instance to the grea
 and sudden. fall of temperature, whicl
 occurred in this latitude some two year
 ago. The symptoms are cough, accom-
 panied at times by inflammation and swellin.
 of the throat, frequent sneezing, and ] interest to all horse owners we publish th'
 following letter, written to the Turf Fielt
 and Farm, by Dr. Edward s. Smith, th'
 veterinarian. It is the best contribution ol
 the subject we have yet seen a-s- The great epizootic excitement is aroused again by several of our news journals, ths
 columns of which are filled with sensationa
 twaddle, ostensibly for the purpose oi
 senseless scare among horsemen, and te
 further enable the quacks to make gainfu
 markets from the credulity of our horse
 owners and make profitable sales of theil
 quack nostrums. For the general benefi
 of all who may own an invaluable animal
 and bearing the nomenclature of a horse. we advise you not to scare worth cent
 We will give you an accurate diagnosis o1
 this affection, with the physiology of the
 organs affected, and correct pathology ot this disease, and will prescribe an ef1caclous treatment for it. The disease that is at the present time prevailing in many localities and in the stables in this city, is nothing more nor less than acute bronchitis. The seat of this disease in it's lncipient stage is the ,bronchia, or wind. pipe, This organ before it enters the lungs divides into two tubes, one of which enters the right portion of the lungs and the other the left portion. These two cartilaglnous tubes are termed bronchia. On entering the lungs the 5ronchia divides into an end less number of smaller tubes, which still divide until they become invisible. The the air.ceHs of the lungs. The inside of the bronchial tubes are filled with little, minute glands which secrete mucous
 The bronchia are the seat of the disease diagnosed bronchitis, or an active inhama- tion of the bronchia. It is the scat of the cough with which our horses are at the present time afflicted The bronchia, being composed of cartilage, like the rest of the windpipe, do not collapse, but remain constantly open, consequently bronchitis is an inflammation of mucous membrane lining the bronchia, or air passages leading to the lungs, and invariably extending to the latter organs, through the trachea, from the larynx. and nasal passages, which were primarily affected, as in ordinary colds.
 The membrane, in the early stage of this disease becomes filled with blood. and as a general consequence, the diameter of the tubes is diminished, and attended by some difficulty and increased rapidity in breath ing. When this affection is not arrested in its incipient stage, frothy mucus is poured forth from the mucous membrane, which still further interferes with the respiration of the patient, and necessitates constant cough to get rid of it. These symptoms are always present, but will vary in intensi- ty and rapidity as the disease progresses. from which bronchitis is termed acute and chronic. It begins, as the perceptible indica- tions at present develope, with prem0nito- ry appearances of cold, and in some cases accompanied by a staring look, and in others entire loss of appetite. This disease is produced by the very sudden climatic disturbances of the atmosphere, which of late has been remarkable, and the animals exposure to them, and the sudden transi- tions from one degree to that of the other constitute the cause of this diseased action in our animals. The treatment adapted to this attack is simple, and the following prescription will be found efficacious !: Give each animal affected drench com posed of the following: Raw linseed oil 14 ounces powdered nitre, drachms ;; calo- mel l-2 drachm, andtartar emetic. drachm mix well, and give repeat the drench on the fifth day, and stop. If the throat is sore and causes distress to the patient in raising his head to give the drench, steam his head in the following manner and by means of !nose bag; Take quarts of bran and ounces of bruised linseed meal, pour boiling water upon these, and, after thoroughly mixing, put the mash in the nose bag and hang it on the patients head, steam twice day. Place on top of each mash, not stirring it into it, powder com posed of powdered gentian and Jamaica ginger, of each one large tablespoonful; ]; powdered nitre, 9 drachms, and tartar eme- tic, drachme. This will be all the treat ment necessary to totally remove the difficulty.
 THAT TERPsICHoREAN OPENING. -MR EDIToR.-In spite of the dull. damp,