246 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The affection of the kidneys may demand gentle laxativefs, (oleaginous,) 

 anodynes, (laudanum) emollient injections, counter-irritants, stimulants, 

 and later gentle diuretics. 



The nervous symptoms will sometimes demand the application of cold 

 wet cloths to the head, counter-irritants to the sides of the neck and 

 limbs, the gaarded use of laxatives and diuretics, with drachm doses of 

 bromide of potassium, and if there is great depression, am.moniacal stim- 

 ulants. 



The rheumatic complication is to be met like ordinary- rheumatism. 

 Liquor of the acetate of ammonia two ounces, and colchicum wine one 

 ounce, may be given twice a day, diluted iu water; tonics, warm cloth- 

 ing, the frequent application of a hot smoothing iron over the affected 

 part of the body, with the intervention of a thin cover, and even coun- 

 ter-irritants are among the agents especially demanded. When the 

 heart is implicated in rheumatic cases the same treatment is neces- 

 sary, but the blisters are to be applied behind the left elbow. 



When there is reason to suspect the existence of clots in the heart, 

 alkaline remedies are recommended, particularly the preparations of 

 ammonia and iodide of potassium, attention being meanwhile given to 

 support the system by tonics and stimulants, and to encourage the 

 elimination of deleterious products from the blood. 



If dropsical manifestations appear they must be treated according to 

 their apparent causes ; if disordered function of the heart or kidneys, 

 these must be met by appropriate measures ; and if from weakness of 

 the circulation, an anremic or debilitated state of the blood and imper- 

 fect nutrition, gentle action of the eliminating organs, with stimulants, 

 tonics, a nourishing diet, (embracing in some cases strong beef soup or 

 tea,) or even transfusion of blood, will be necessary. 



Purpura liccmorrhagica is to be met by similar supporting and eliminat- 

 ing treatment, with the addition of oil of turpentine in half ounce 

 doses, or pure carbolic acid in drachm doses, and cinchona in half 

 ounce doses, repeated thrice a day. The skin over the engorgements 

 should be rubbed frequently with a solution of carbolic acid, containing 

 one part of the acid to every hundred of water, and a similar lotion 

 should be applied frequently to the sores when these form. 



In short the various complications and sequilse of simple influenza are 

 to be treated like similar lesions occurring independently of this affec- 

 tion, but with due regard to the great debility attending this disease. 

 The great majority of cases will recover without any treatment ; and 

 indeed many require no medical treatment, but a certain number will 

 demand the greatest care of the educated medical attendant. 



Frevention. — Many have attempted to ward off the disease by the use 

 of tobacco, camphor, vinegar, tar, asafoetida, &c., and others more 

 rationally by bromo-chloralum, carbolic acid, permanganate of i^otash, 

 sulphurous acid, and the hyposulphites, but in no case with permanent 

 success. 



With a contagium like that at present under consideration, so easily 

 diffused through the atmosphere, absolute prevention will always be 

 difficult, though not necessarily impossible. With a disease, too, the 

 tendency of which is almost invariably to a favorable termination, it is 

 scarcely politic to shut up an animal for a month iu a disinfected atmos- 

 phere, until the disease has subsided, with the probability before us 

 that he would still contract the disease from the remnants of the poison 

 when exposed at the end of this period. Thorough cleanliness and dis- 

 infectants are to be highly commended, not with the view of absolutely 

 preventing the disease, but rather with intent to retard and moderate it. 



