Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-11
SCARLET FEVER AMONG HORSES.
Experiments fm Vaccination with
Equine Virus.

From the New York Journal.
For some time past there have been stories
in circulation about the prevalence Of scarlet
fever among horses, and some anxiety is felt
lest the disease should be contagious, not only
among the animals, but that it may be COM
municated from horses to men. Extensive in
quiry among horse-dealers, veterinary sur
geOns and stable-keepers fails to substantiate
the statement that any such disease is widely
prevalent. Most of the horsemen say it does
not exist at all, while some say that either
scaratina or something like it does exist in
some places. The health department knows
nothing about it. Yet scarlet fever as dis
ease among horses has long been recognized by
French. English and German veterinary sur
geons. and is quoted and discussed in Standard
books. In THE Principles and Practice of
Veterinary Medicine it is stated that "horses
sick with the scarlet fever IRE covered with
blotches on the face, neck legs; the mucous
membrane Of the nose is covered with. scarlet
spots of variable size, and there is a discharge
of mucus from the nose. The legs are generally
swollen, and the animal is stiff Soreness of the
throat Is almost constant symptom, and when
the rash disappears there Is some peeling of the
skin as In scarlet fever and measles"
Whether the virus from horse having scarlet
fever can be used to vaccinate children as pre-
ventive against the fever has, we learn. been
tried by two or three physicians of Orange, N.
j.. who consider that they have made the most
benefcent discovery Of the age, one which will
take rank with that OF Jenner. These physi-
clans have made the most careful experiments,
and have inoculated twelve children, with the
consent of the parents, with the virus of scarlet
fever taken from horses 1t produced only slight
local effects like vaccination, but the children
were made absolutely proof against scarlet
fever, as was manifested not only by exposure
to the disease, but by the crucial test Of inOcu-
lating blood from scarlet-fever patients into the
arms of these protected children without produ-
cling scarlet fever or any bad effect
The New York County Medical Society Is
looking into the matter. and report from
committee may be expected within month.
The Pathological Society has appointed a COM
mlftee to hnd out how much scarlet fever there
Is in this city among horses, and to test whether
true preventive OF scarlet fever has been dis
covered. The Academy of Medicine has had it's
attention drawn to 1t, and probably will select
wise and experienced men to test it in the most
thorough manner.
DR.. John c. Peters referred the Journal rep-
resentatiye to an article in recent number Of
the Nettscdt Record, and said that he had long
known that scarlet fever existed among horses
In Europe. and some years ago he made an I'M
successful attempt to discover 1t here, but with
only partial success. He had learned that cases
OF the fever had occurred in the CITY, but they
were few in number. As for the disease becom-
Ing contagious there need be no alarm Except
In cases of hydrophobia animal diseases are sell
dom communicated to human beings The virus
used by the doctors at Orange for vaccination
was procured from professor in Edinburgh,
Scotland.