INFLUENZA IN HORSES. 



239 



Microscopic examination cy Dr. E. E. Jackson, of Columbia, South Carolina. 



Ist. A stabled Iiorso ; largo quantity of mucus aud pus. Examiuatiou of discharge 

 showed tUanieDts of fibrine and organized bodies. 



^d. Horse passing on street ; thin dis- Yirr. 44. 



charge ; same organized bodies seen "' 



through microscope. 



3d. Early stage; thin discharge ; same 

 organized bodies. 



4th. Very thick discharge ; much cough- 

 ing; no organisms apparent. 



5th. Thin discharge, early stage, organ- 

 ized bodies in abundance; seven in one 

 field of the instrument. 



6th. Mule; thin discharge, numbers of 

 organized bodies, with mucus or pus. 



7th. Similar to above, (mule.) 



8th. Mule ; thin discharge, in one held 

 of view one very large organism ; in an- 

 other six of ordinary size. 



9th. Thin discharge from an ox exam- 

 ined ; no organisms. 



10th. Horse; numerous organisms. 



nth. Horse; thick discharge; no or- 

 ganisms. 



Fig. 45. 12th. Horse; thin discharge; 

 no organisms; no motion visible. 



In all the cases were found vegetable spurs or hairs from grain or rough 

 food. Have seen similar organisms in stagnant pools and in decomposing 

 vegetable matter. Microscope used, 750 magnifying povrer. 



Fig. 45 represents the vegetable spores. 



The similarity of the spores seen by Mr. Taylor and myself will be 

 manifest to tlie reader. In my case they had the same orange-brown 

 color which lie has so well depicted. In my observations there was no 

 opportunity for the growth of mycelium, so that the differences in this 

 respect are of no significance. The fact that these germs were more 

 abundant in the hay than in any other medium testifies strongly enough 

 as to their true origin. Then the results of Dr. Jackson's observations, 

 in showing an entirely different organization, would seem to indicate 

 that these are merely different manifestations of vegetable life under 

 varied climatic conditions, and are of no significance in connection with 

 influenza. 



And to this effect is the testimony of Dr. J. J. Woodward, of the 

 Medical Department of the Army, who says : 



Within the last few da,ys I have collected the organic forms from a quantity of the 

 air in a stable in this city, in which were a number of sick horses, and submitted them 

 to the highest powers of the microscope, without finding any which are not usually 

 encountered Avheu no epidemic is prevailing, and have alao subjected the mucus dis- 

 charge from the nostrils of several of the horses to the sanie examination, with like 

 negative results. 



The other doctrine is the most reasonable one, and is one which ap- 

 pears to explain all the pathological phenomena. It recognizes in the 

 granules which exist abundantly in the diseased organs the morbid agent 

 capable of transmitting the disease. These granules, which are merely 

 microscopical particles of variable size and form, often possess many of 

 the characters of the ultimate nutrient centers, (nuclei, germinal matter 

 of Beale,) even to the power of rapidly absorbing coloring matter, and 

 which seems to imply a capacity to appropriate other material for the 

 increase and multi[)licatiou of their substance. These nuclei or gran- 

 ules are reproduced with extraordinary rapidity in the substance of the 

 diseased mucous membrane and at the expense of the vital elements, 

 liquid and solid, of the body, so that Beale and others have concluded 



