Infectious Diseases of Animals. 245 



From the inspector's report it appeared that oue of the animals only was 

 affected with a slight catarrh. The other two, it was ascertained, had 

 suffered from the same disease during the voyage, but were convalescent at 

 the time they arrived at Liverpool. 



Before this report was received, however, sufficient evidence of the nature 

 of the disease had appeared in the published accounts of it to lead to the con- 

 clusion that the so-called new distemper was merely the catarrhal fever or 

 influenza which is so common in this country. 



Under these circumstances it was not thouglit necessary to place any 

 restrictions upon the importation of horses from America, as influenza was 

 at that time existing among horses in our own country ; and there was no 

 reason to apprehend that the disease, if it were imported, would spread, with 

 the remarkable rapidity which characterized its progress in America, unless 

 the climatic conditions were identical in the two countries. No restrictions 

 are imposed on the movement of horses suffering from influenza in this king- 

 dom, nor is it thought necessary that any special regulations should be made 

 in reference to a malady which is usually benign in its character, and does 

 not spread extensively unless under peculiar states of the atmosphere. 



In the last 30 years several outbreaks of influenza have occurred in London 

 and other large towns, and periodically the affection exists to a greater or less 

 degree in difierent parts of the country, principally during spring and autumn. 

 It may be fairly asserted at any rate that we have always a sufficient number 

 of centres of disease to account for its extensive spread if the necessary con- 

 ditions of climate should be present. 



Whether or not influenza is strictly speaking a contagious disease has not 

 been absolutely determined. In some instances it proceeds rapidly through a 

 stud, while in others it only attacks a certain number of horses which are 

 standing in one stable, and then goes on to some other part of the district. 



Frequently when diseased animals have been brought into places where 

 healthy ones were standing and have remained for a considerable time, in fact 

 until their recovery, no extension of the disease has occurred ; while at other 

 times healthy animals have been sent into a stable out of which diseased ones 

 have been taken, without suflering in consequence. 



It cannot, however, be afiirmed in the present state of our knowledge that 

 influenza is not contagious, and it is certainly prudent, during its prevalence, 

 to isolate sick animals, and to employ disinfectants, in short to deal with the 

 malady as if it were known to be infectious. 



The history of the progress of influenza in America is quite opposed to the 

 theory of its propagation by contagion. The rapidity of its advance in the 

 States was such that hundreds of animals appeared to be simultaneously 

 attacked. Frequently the occun-ence of the first symptoms in one or two 

 animals in a large establishment in the morning was followed by the appear- 

 ance of similar symptoms in nearly the whole of them in the course of a few 

 hours. This rapid and extensive diffusion of the disease is not characteristic 

 of propagation by contagion. 



It appears from the accounts which have been received from America 

 relating to the origin and distribution of the disease that it occurred first in 

 Toronto, whence it rapidly spread through the towns of the Canadian frontier 

 until it reached New York in the beginning of the last week in October. Its 

 progress in that city was so rapid that 40,000 horses were attacked in a fort- 

 night, and the greatest difficulty was found in carrying on the traffic. 



Sick animals were worked until in some instances they died in the streets, 

 and so much cruelty was inflicted that it was found necessary for the autho- 

 rities to interpose. 



The malady swept rapidly through the sates of the Dominion, reaching 

 Philadelphia on October 26th, thence it travelled southward to Baltimore, 



