156. 
animals recovered, and those that did survive were generally of little 
value as work-animals subsequently. 
The treatment of disordered animals was of the most varied descrip- 
tion, from the most systematic quackery to utter neglect. It is difficult 
to decide from our reports which of these extremes was the more fatal. 
Some ambitious veterinary surgeons exhausted the resources of the 
materia medica in order to find a universal specific, and mercilessly ad- 
ministered nostrum after nostrum, to the great injury of the afflicted 
animal. Liverymen in towns and _ cities were especially addicted to 
elaborate treatment. The suddenness of the visitation, and the very 
serious impediment which it created in all kinds of industry and trade, 
begot an anxiety to expedite the processes of nature and to work a cure 
in the shortest possible time. This impatience caused the loss of a 
large number of valuable horses that might otherwise have entirely 
recovered from the disease; it was generally the more valuable animals 
that were subjected to this. forcing treatment. In a large number of 
counties, in all parts of the Union, these facts are clearly and emphati- 
cally stated by our correspondents, who almost universally favor a 
milder and more sensible treatment. The application of embrocation 
to the skin in order to bring the internal inflammation to the surface 
and thus relieve the suffering organs, and the cleansing of the nostrils 
by dilutions of carbolic acid, &c., and stimulating the free discharge of 
mucus, were in many cases reported as very beneficial, but the unmiti- 
gated dosing practiced by many persons is strongly condemned. The 
elements of the most successful treatment appear to have been rest, 
extra care, good grooming, clean, warm, and well-ventilated stables, 
from which poisonous effluvia had been removed by lime, carbolic acid, 
or other disinfectants, a genial and yet laxative diet of scalded oats, 
warm bran mash, raw apples, and potatoes, &c., blankets and leg-band- 
ages. In many cases gentle exercise or even moderate labor was re- 
ported as better than absolute rest, but this could have been true only 
in milder cases, and in the prior stages of the disease. In some por- 
tions of the country where the infliction was not severe, good shelter, 
with free range of dry pasture in good weather, was found better than 
blanketing and warm stables. In a few cases, animals entirely destitute: 
of shelter, fared better than others kept under cover. Such, however, 
could not have been exposed to the cold winter rains so injurious to 
even healthy farm animals in most parts of the country. A case in 
point occurred near Richmond, Virginia; ten mules were employed in a 
coal-mine and had no communication with the upper air except through 
a shaft 600 feet deep. One of the mules commenced coughing on Satur- 
day night, and by Tuesday all were affected with the epizooty. Two 
died, but the others were but mildly affected. The two that died were 
occasionally wet from passing under a drip during their work, while 
the others were not thus exposed. 
The fatality was small considering the large number of animals 
affected by the disease. In Maine five counties report losses ranging 
from 1 to 6 per cent. of the animals attacked; five others report a few 
cases. In New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut, no county lost 
over 24 per cent. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island the loss in one 
county of each reached 10 per cent. The maximum in New York and 
New Jersey was 5 per cent.; in Pennsylvania, 3 per cent.; in Maryland,, 
3 per cent.; Virginia, 64 per cent.; North Carolina, 1 per cent. ; South 
Carolina, 2 per cent.; Georgia, 5 per cent.; Florida, 3 per cent.; Ala- 
bama, 2 per cent.; Mississippi, 5 per cent.; Louisiana, 2 per cent. 5 
Texas, 15 per cent, (in Kaufman County ;) Arkansas, 5 per cent.; Ten- 
