The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-01-05
for The farmer.
INFLUENZA, OR PINK EYE IN HoR-
SES.


Hinder the above names are included many
diseases of the horse. Ii Is, however, better 10
res,rict the tenn !n.ineaza TO only the epizootie
| disease of horses. which is Analogous 10 the
/ iufueuza of man. and accompanied by ca
,arrial inflammation of the air passages, Win
general debility weakness of the ANIMAL
The common term Of pinE-eye is used by hoTs;
owners on account of the eoloration and general
| anpearance Of the eye. This is not 4 new dis
| ease. as might be inferred from the reports Of
| the newspapers. The first account oil an ahre-
| tion similar To- IT, dates as far back - E-J. In
| Iz32 il prevailed in England, ia hi6 IN Ger
ulany, in I755 in the north of Scotland, and 80
an In modern times it prevailed IA lsiu IN
/ France in 1-:sS in Germany, in l-Jb IN France
again: while every one remembers the eliizooiic
| OF Is72 which prevailed ia this country. This
started in Canada and spread all over this CONT
| nent disabling horses, preventing their uss, aud
| thus for a number Of weeks intertered with the
immense traffic of our people, while it carried OH
hundreds of valuable animals, either by disease,
| or in many instances, improper or inludIcIous
! treatment. The latest appearance of this aiiec-
tion was lust one ycHT ago, when several of our
| large cities suffered from the same trouble.
Influenza is Il disease especially ePizoOtic, that
j. affecting large number of horses upon large
| territory and it, sudden appearance can as yet
only be vaguely explained. IL appears in all
climates and in ali temperatures. Many causes
| have been assigned for it, such sudden chan
ses of air. masInatic influences, peculiar elee-
tric condition of the air, etc. The presence OF
of ozoue in excess in the atmosphere, the iniiu
ence Of continued eastern winds, are considered
hv some authors essential causes, but careful
Investigation has shown most Of them to he
groundleSs. Drafts or currents of air, low and
badly ventilated stables, regarded predis-
posing causes but this rests on no real ground,
rs we have sern il in New York prevail in the
best stables where all hygienic rules were care
fully observed, "a often rs in the poor
est sllanties, where fresh air and light
were almost unknown, and where filth was ga
thered without regard to health The sex, the
age the breed of the animal seems to have no
influence, though in the last two ortbreaks in
the United States mares seemed To suiirrln grea
ter numbers, and they ais" made a more general
recovery, gelhngs, rs 4 general thing, yirldiug
less readily to treatment.
The question of cOnta.ion is yet unsettled;
many admit it. while many others deny il. The
symptoms make their appearance suddenly; an
animal apparently perfectly well AZ a given
time, may a few hours after he very sick. At
first the animal may show slight loss of appe-
tite, a little fever, which may vary in, INTENSITY,
the pulse becoming quicker, the respiration ill.,
creased, and the temperature rising several de-
grees. The throat becomes tender on pressure,
and then dry and painful cough appears. The
eyes become bloodshOt and swollen, with DIS
charge more or less abundant. Sometimes there
is an inilammatOTy condition of the eye, followed
| by the formation Of pus, and often the extremi-
ties are swollen. Soon "A discharge from the
nose takes place, at first thin aud watery, after
wards more puS-like in character. According TO
| the type and severity Of the disease and the pc
culiarity of the individuals. nervous symptoms
show themselves, troubles of the chest and
| bowels are detected. Thus we find SYM toms of
lung fever or bronchitis, coliclSy pain, pains
| inflammation of the bowels compile a'inS the orr
| ginal disease and again rheumatic symptoms
| are observed. Generally the disease runs reg
ulaT course, and lasts but few days, from seven
| TO ten unless il becomes complicated. In the
thar, - faaF pf MI m tp
| while in the other fatal results may occur. The
epiZootic may last short time, or II may coutin-
Tie for weeks or months: eases ar. recorded where
1t lasted whole year. Irregular in its appear
| ance and in ITS manipUiatinns, it may affect a
few horses, or may lap up all the animals of n
| stable. When the disease is simple in its char
/ acter there is no mortality; ia the epiZootic of
Cleveland, in l-j0, il is said that only one horse
died out Of 400 sick ones. When At is eomplica-
ted the mortality is likely To be greater, and
pccially is thus the case where the disease known
| as puppies (purpura hcmouha.ical appears.
The treatment Of simple influenza is very easy.
Rest care in the diet, abundant drinks with
small doses of SaltpetTe are the principal things
| to be observed. Where there is sore throat, en-
| plOy slight counter irritation BY liniments and
| histers. A mixture of honey or mnlaSses, with
liquOrice, gum arabic and extract Of belladonna,
will allay the cough. If there is extreme debil-
| ~ alcoholic sJimulanis may lie given in the wa
| ter, and if the administration of pills does not
| produce too much cough, two dr. chms of caFbO-
nate of ammonia, with one Grachm Of champion.
may he given. Careful attention to hygiene,
proper ventilation, fresh and clean bedding,
| banaaging the smaller extremitieS and Judi
| ciouS blankcting according to tine condition of
| external air, are Of the greatest advantage in
| the management Of influenza. Complications
require different treatment according to their
| nature. Il is impossible to give any rHles rela-
ting to the prevention Of the disease: CLEANLINESS
and disinfrction being ahogt the only advice to
give; but influenza will appear. no matter what
precaution may have been taken against it
Prot. LiGHfard !. s., in ime'icGH -igricH'!H'if.