Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-10-31
LIV { @ K.


THERE is nc question worthy OF a NOR
serious consideration than the epidemic
now among the live stock of this country
Until the coming of the epizootic a few year
ago it was uncommon with Montanians see
to sick horse orcow, but since the spreading
Of this disease, though it came in q very
mild form, disorders of some type Or othe1
have continued to prevail. That ~effectins
Che animals this year seems, however, to bt
more disastrous than ever before ; that it il
an epidemic there Is hardly any doubt
since it continues to raid the country effect
Ing the animals much the same of the cpl
denies in other countries. Among cattle
1t has scarcely been noticed or telt, but
among horses the destruction in some sec
tons has become quite serious. The dis.
ease exists in two or three stages, and might
with consistency be called a pneumonia.
The first symptoms are much the same o.
what has been termed I" raid form of cpl
%zootic," and is too often mistaken and treat
ed for it, causing fatality in the early stage.
Ii in the first stage the horse is being work
ed he will cough occasionally, and after the
second day a blood-tinged water may be
aeen ooze from his n~ostrils. The glands
become swollen. the horse loses his appe-
tite, or rather his throat being sore he can
not swallow enough food. Ifallowed to go
rmnoticed the throat becomes liberated and
swollen, and as time advances the :nfama-
tion continues backward. The horse be-
comes dumpish and almost ~lifeless, and
stands with head down in 4 dull stEpor j;
his legs become cold, bowels irritated and
feverish, and usually the food does not di-
gest, but passes hard, dry and has an ashy,
red color. At the same time the liberation
reaches the organs leading to the lungs, fill
Ing with matter so as to almost obstruct
the breathing /; and if not checked the lungs
also become inflamed, teyerish and swollen.
In the third stage the horse has chills, the
chest sWells SO that the shape of the lungs
reaching back between the tore legs is east
ly preceptible, the fever increases, consider
able matter comes from the n~ostrils, and
the horse continues to grow weaker until
the lungs in their fevered state become I'LL
cerated and ~decoinposed. The horse loses
flesh very fast, and usually Will stand in a
dumplsl stupor until death overtakes him.
1t is difficult to determine what the disease
Is until it passes into its second stage; but
when the horse quits eating hay and his
throat and chest becomes feyerish, his feet
cold, and the GOODNESS continues up the legs
II is a sure case Of pneumonia. In this stage
the disease may be easily checked and the
animal brought to himself again by pursu-
ing the following course:
Lead him into a warm stable. cover with
a blanket, take all the hay from his reach,
mix four ~tablespoonfnls of sweet spirits of
nitre, one tablespoonful of aromatic spirits
of amonia, fifteen grams OF quinine in one
half pint OF whisky, and give in one dose.
Rub the legs with a cloth until they become
warm and thereby keep up circulation Of
the blood. II by feeling OF the chest with
hand there is evidence of much foyer in the
lungs, cover the lungs with a mustard plas-
ter, which may be made by mixing until
soft as dough with vinegar spread o%ne-llalf
inch thick over Il cloth sufficiently large to
cover the lungs. In putting on. battle the
parts with vinegar aud tie up SO that the
will stick close to the skin. The
mustard plaster will draw Sufficiently III
about ten hours, when it may be taken of
and The skin creased with lard. If the te-
yer has not abated in tWenty-lour hours re-
peat the dose OF q%uInine, ammonia and nj
ire. The only feed the horse should have. is
. mixture OF bran, shorts and water. II,