ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 287 



tion, as before many years liave gone by, even the traces of these by-gone cus- 

 toms will have entirely disappeared. 



Shelikoff reported on the first census in 1795 a population of ten thousand 

 Aleuts, including thirty-six hundred natives of Kadiak. In 18G7 the total 

 Aleutian population in the islands amounted to about 1980, according to the re- 

 port of Prof. Geo. Davidson, U. S. Coast Survey. The census for 1871, as re- 

 ported to me by the priest of Unalashka, was 2574 in all ; of the inhabitants 

 of the islands only, there were in 1870, 1901, with 97 births and 104 deaths ; in 

 1871, 1913 souls, with 44 births and 57 deaths ; the increase of 12 being due to 

 immigration from Sitka and the mainland. The death rate is slightly the 

 largest and a gradual decrease in population is resulting, pointing toward the 

 final extinction of the race. 



The Horse Disease and Its Treatment. 



BY A. B. STOUT, M. D. 



The probability that the •' Horse Disease," now prevailing in the Eastern and 

 Western States, may reach California, renders it a subject worthy of earnest study. 

 It is probable, or at least greatly to be hoped, that the elevated and cold barrier 

 of the Sierras may interrupt and prevent its passage across the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. Even if it should, the original germ-elements of its existence may as well 

 be generated primarily, if climatic influences favor their production, on this as 

 on that side of the mountains. 



It may then prove a public benefit to throw what light we can on this mal- 

 ady, as far in advance as possible of its invasion. Being thus armed in advance 

 with information, every horse-owner in the State may be prepared to act as his 

 own veterinary surgeon. 



We may premise by saying that the usual appliances of veterinary surgeons 

 will not succeed. The nature of the malady is that of an intermittent fever dis- 

 posed to assume a typhoid type. The nasal catarrh, the throat disease, and the 

 congestion of the lungs, which appear with more or less acuteness, are only 

 secondary affections, and abate so soon as the primary fever and brain disorder 

 are controlled. Hence it is that purgatives, drenches, sweats, blisters and 

 clysters, if relied upon alone, assist the malady by promoting debility. What- 

 ever debilitates the animal will favor the disease ; because the disease itself is 

 one of debility, caused by the poisoning of the blood through malarious in- 

 fluence. This poison prostrates the power of the brain and corrupts the blood : 

 nervous fever results, and the animal requires support rather than debilitating 

 agents. 



THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, 



As yet obtained, are very vaguely described ; but the one symptom, that of the 

 coldness of the legs and ears, is almost sufficient to define the malady. No 

 journals have as yet given a clear account of the general symptoms. When 

 the air containing the germ-poison which the horse breathes comes in contact 

 with the lining membrane of the nose, mouth and throat, it is quite natural 



