The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-24
$4,000 HORSES
ARE Affected.
Peculiar Disease Spreading
With Great Rapidly.
SEEMS TO Be IN NEW YORK AIR
Veterinarians BELIEVE That Human Beings
May Be- Attack,d-HoTses OF Wealthy
as Well as Poor Suffer.
SEEMS TO Be IN NEW YORK AIR


than $1,000 horses in New York are af-
fected by the peculiar disease which
has made its appearance in this city
within the last ten days. and which in
some respects resembles epizooty. which
at various times has seriously affected
horses in New York.
Veterinarians go further, and decIare
that not only is II reasonable TO expect
that the lower animals chiefly dogs and
cats, will be subjected 10 the disease, but
that some human beings may fall victims
TO a certain extent
Superintendent Hankinson, of the So
ciety for the Prevention OF Cruelty to
Animals, agrees with the veterinarians
that this disease among horses has as
sumed a most alarming aspect
Up to yesterday the societys men had
ordered more than one hundred horses
that they had found In harness TO be
taken to the stable.
Horses belonging 10 express companies,
large department stores, contractors who
are engaged I'm doing hauling on large
scale, and livery stables are the principal
sufferers, although the disease affects the
animals of the wealthy and the poor
alike.
Were the public dependent upon the
horse instead of electricity in street car
transportation there would undoubtedly
be great inconvenience.
HUMAN BEINGS MAY BE AFFECTED.
DR. f. n. Leavy. house surgeon OF the
New York Veterinary Hospital said in
speaking of the new disease:
1T may be best described as an acute
laryngeal catarrh. IL Is new TO veterin-
arians in that while IL has some OF the
characteristics of epizooty II is in other
respects entirely different from IL. II Is
OF germ origin, is due TO climatic changes
and is i'm the air. and. unlike epizooty,
is not caught by drinking contaminated
water.
1T would not be surprising II the germ
has been aided In its development to
large extent by the opening OF streets
for the construction or the underground
railroad and by the moist. warm weather
we have experienced recently. This. Of
course, Is only a. surmise, for nothing
is as vet known positively about the
germ or its origin.
1T would not surprise US II human
beings we're affected. while IL is most
likely that dogs and cats will be attacked
''All the symptoms do not appear at the
same time First, rise I'm the tempera-
ture of the animal will be noted some
times 10 as high as los degrees. This
will be followed by chills and fever. and
a constant and rritant cough. There Is
also an attendant weakness and I'm every
way the animal is unified for work The
appetite Of the animal is not affected.
Up 10 the present time the death rate
is about three per cent. but II is not
improbable that IL may reach twenty per
cent. If other troubles follow, such as
pneumonia and chronic laryngitis. The
usual period OF the disease is about four
teen days.
$4,000 AFFECTED.
That fifty thousand horses I'm New
York are affected by the disease is not
an unreasonable estimate. This is an
estimate | have made, and unless | miss
my guess the number will be largely in
creased within a few Gays.
ITO warn owners Of horses that their
animals should not De worked even
though suffering from the disease only in
it's mildest form seems superfiuous advice
20 those who are merciful TO their beasts,
while those who have no sympathy or
kindness for dumb brutes should be
forced TO give the animals rest and proper
attention when they are ill.'
DIR. A. Armstrong, another veterinary
who has had many years experience,
said: 1T is difficult to say TO what ex-
tent the disease is likely TO attain in New
York Animals that are used I'm heavy
hauling rather than those used for car
riage purposes are more likely to be
riousy affected, because the harder work
is a greater tax upon their vitality.
The disease is no respecter OF animals.
however, and the horse or the millionaire
is as likely to be attacked as that of the
poorest peddler who drives about the
streets. SO far as is known up 10 the
present time the disease has not made
its appearance elsewhere than i'm Nv
ArLy tIa toh of hatV
the point where the most serious results
are observed
II agree with DIR. Leavy that there are
fifty thousand horses, I'm round numbers,
now suffering from tho disease to some
extent I'm New York. / should not be at
all surprised TO see the number increased
by many thousands IL IS something
new 10 veterinarians. and the profession
is studying the disease with much in
terest."
DIR. MCAFFREY'S OPINION.
DR. f. j. McCaffrey. of the Veterinary
Hospital, said the disease was undoubted-
ly infectious.
F"It is spreading with rapidity that is
remarkable he said. II have never
seen like disease I'm my twelve years
experience as a veterinary I'm this city"
He said the disease had developed I'm new
FORM causing abscesses I'm the intermaxil-
larry space, which complicated the treat
ment very much.
DIR. Il. NJ Henderson, OF the Veterinary
Hospital, treated fve hundred cases yes
terday. He said the disease seemed to
be growing each twenty-four hours. DR..
Henderson said that unless the disease
was watched IL would likely terminate
In pneumonia In many cases
Epidemics among horses I'm New York
nave not been infrequcnt Ina the past. In
1872 epizooty attacked the animals by
thousands Some stage and street car
lines were almost forced To suspend oper-
ations. In 1880 epizooty again attacked
thousands OF horses In the fan OF 1886
glanders and farcy necessitated the kill
ing of many horses. In Ssee glanders was
again prevalent In New York.
For cver fifty tesrs.
MRs wINSIOw'S SOOTHING SYRUP
hcan used for Nfty by