The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-15
PINK EYE OR INFLUENZA.

PINK EYE Oh INfLOGNzA'
An Authority Writes on Disease Com
mon Among Horses.
Although but little has been heard
as regards prevalence OF the disease
in these parts, its existence Is re-
ported as being quite common in some
places across the Wyoming line, hence
the following regarding catarrhal fever
or influenza in horses may be OF in
terest to some who are fortunate
enough to be the owners Of horses
hereabouts. The article has been
printed in several OF the northern
Wyoming newspapers and is by Doc
tor s. W. Service, senior veterinary
surgeon Of the United States
army and veterinarian of the
Tenth cavalry, with station
at Fort Mackenzie, near Sheridan. He
writes:
"A perfect bable of confusion pre-
walls among authors with regard to
this disease. It has been called by
the various names of pink eye, horse
all, typhoid fever, distemper, grippe,
gastraintritis, hepatic fever, epidemic
catarrh, ETC., and has been treated
quite as variously as it has been
named.
ut is very apt to occur among many
horses in the same neighborhood at
the same time, and frequently spreads
as If it was contagious. Horses taken
from the country are almost certain
to undergo an attack of the disease.
1t occurs most frequently in the spring
and fall.
"The first symptom of catarrhal
fever is a chill, fit or paroxism; but
it is very seldom that this symptom
will be observed. The horse will be-
come languid, or lazy and will hardly
move at all; he seems very weak; is
off his feed; the. breathing is difficult;
the air evidently passing up the nos
trils with difficulty; the eyes are red
and bleary; the patient swallows with
great dificulty-even water; the feet
and legs are cold in the early stage of
the disease; the pulse is increased in
frequency; the discharges from the
body are passed in small quantities;
the patient becomes haggard and worn
very rapidly from the first-very early
in the disease a watery swelling OF
the legs takes place. This swelling
may extend to the groin n sheath,
a discharge from the nose, of a yellow
mucus takes place after a few days,
| and this may be regarded as a favor
able symptom. The tongue is cover
ed with a thick coat and saliva runs
freely except in some cases., when the
mouth and tongue are very dry and
red. In a favorable case the symptoms
before described become less severe
and finally disappear. The ordinary
duration of an attack, properly treat
ed, would be but a few days, but II
left to nature it may run it's course
in a week or two.
"Catarrhal fever may terminate IL
Inflammation or abscess of the glands
under the jaw or it may run into in
fammation of the lungs, or even CLAN
ders if neglected or improperly treat
ed. The exact cause of this disease
is not satisfactorily understood, bu1
I regard it as one of those diseases
originating in colds and sometime:
assuming an epidemic form, and fresf
air. good clothing and bedding, are
useful measures for the comfort of thu
patient. l give blood root, gentian
sulphur, potassii, nitras, OF each two
ounces for one patient. Mix and Civ
one teaspoonful in a handful of fla
seed two or three times daily. sRul
the limbs thoroughly and bandag'
with flannel. If a mild cathartic il
necessary, l commonly give aloe
barb six drachms with 20 grains pc
dophy thin as a drink, and bliste
the under and forward part of tn
chest. using liquid blister.
"Let him have plenty of salt an
soft feed and he is very liable to re
cover 1t is well to separate all sic
animals from healthy ones"
To the Horsemen Of Billings an