lo Oct., 1908.] htf-uenza in Horses. 621 



infection came along — possibly brought to the city by country horses 

 mobilized by the military authorities for the Fleet week celebrations — and 

 caught the equine population of the city in an impoverished condition with 

 an all-round lowered vitality and with its powers of resistance against 

 disease invasion at the lowest possible point ; vulnerable to attack and an 

 easy prey. Hence the rampant spread of the disease and its more than 

 usual severity in individual cases. As indicative of the extent and viru- 

 lence of the disease, as also of its sudden onset, the case may be men- 

 tioned of a city firm with seventy horses all well on Friday evening, while 

 by the following Sunday morning all but four were under treatment and 

 already four cases of " founder " had developed. In many of the larger 

 stables in the city 80 per cent, of the horses are prostrated with the 

 complaint. 



Symptoms. 



The first symptoms may develop in from one to three days from the 

 time the horse has been exposed to the infection. The symptoms persist 

 in one form or another throughout the attack, which, in cases which recover, 

 will run its course in from six to ten days. Of course, at the end of this 

 period the horse will be in a much weakened state, and unfit to resume 

 work until convalescence is complete. The disease is of a febrile type, 

 and, as mentioned above, its onset is ver\' rapid and marked by extreme 

 prostration and dejection. In a simple case, there is high fever, the head 

 hangs low, the eyelids are swollen, there is an effusion of tears, and the 

 eyes are sensitive to the light. The throat is very sore, making swallowing 

 very diflficult. The appetite is impaired ; the patient may take a small 

 mouthful occasionally, but will not complete the mastication ; and the 

 thirst is great. The urine is high-coloured and scanty, staling of small 

 quantities at frequent intervals. The faeces are also scanty, a few small 

 balls covered with mucus being passed. The patient is indisposed to move, 

 and, if made to do so, staggers and swavs with weakness. The sore throat 

 is mostly accompanied by a cough, and may also be associated with an 

 external swelling or fulness of the throat. The internal temperature is 

 usually increased. It may run from 104° F. to 107° F. — a rise of from 

 2| to 5^ degrees above normal. A temperature above 103° F. is indicative 

 of the thorough establishment of the complaint and the necessity for rest 

 and appropriate treatment. 



In an ordinary case the pulse mav not be greatly disturbed and any 

 considerable increase from the normal (40 beats per minute), say to 60, 

 80, or 100 beats should be taken as premonitory of definite inflammation 

 of some internal organ. The breathing is quickened particularly in those 

 cases which tend to develop pneumonia. The inside of the eyelids and 

 the eveball are abnormallv reddened, and, in cases with liver complica- 

 tions may present a yellowish tinge. 



The previously mentioned disinclination to move would appear to 

 indicate, in the light of one's personal sensations during an influenza 

 attack, the presence of severe aching pains in the muscles. This is es- 

 peciallv suggested when an attempt is made to turn the patient round ; 

 the head, neck, and body are allowed to partly swing round before the 

 limbs are moved, and as much space as possible is taken to turn in. 

 Forcibly turning the patient in a short space distresses him considerably 

 and is generally productive of a prolonged grunt or groan. 



These are the most commonly manifested symptoms in an ordinary, 

 benign case. In those in which complications occur, svmptoms are pre- 

 sented which are specially indicative of the disease which is developed. 



