MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 167 



Feed soft foods, such as grass, bran mashes, steamed oats. Supply 

 an abundance of fresh drinking water to which has been added one- 

 half ounce of potassium nitrate two or three times a day. During 

 convalescence give moderate exercise, tonics, and plenty of grain. 



491. Influenza (pinkeye, catarrhal fever). An acute conta- 

 gious and infectious disease affecting the respiratory and digestive mu- 

 cous membranes, the eyes, and the nervous and circulatory systems. 



Cause. An organism the nature of which little is known. 



Symptoms. The first symptoms noticed are loss of appetite, de- 

 pression, and great weakness. The animal staggers when walking, 

 the head is held low, and the temperature rises to 105 or 107. The 

 eyes are often intensely inflamed and the visible mucous membranes 

 become yellowish in color. There is often a discharge from the 

 nostrils, which may be watery at first, but later becomes thicker and 

 often tinged with yellow. Respiration is quickened, and when the 

 digestive organs are affected colic may occur. At first there is con- 

 stipation and the dung is coated with a thin layer of mucus. Later, 

 diarrhea may set in and the legs may become swollen, hot, and 

 sensitive to the touch. During the course of the disease pneumonia 

 sometimes develops. 



Treatment. Absolute rest. Clothe the body according to the 

 season; pro vide, plenty of fresh drinking water and give soft food, 

 except when diarrhea exists, in which case give hay, dry bran, oat- 

 meal, or crushed oats. Colic may be relieved by giving cannabis 

 indica, fluid extract of belladonna, or the camphor and carbolic acid 

 preparation as prescribed in paragraph 414. Give one-half ounce 

 doses of potassium nitrate in drinking water two or three times daily. 

 Quinine sulphate may be given twice a day in 1-dram doses. If great 

 weakness is in evidence, combine the quinine with 1 dr&m fluid extract 

 ofnux vomica and give twice daily. Or, give alcoholor spirits of nitrous 

 ether in 2 to 4 ounce doses three times daily in the drinking water. 



The eyes, if involved, should be treated as directed in paragraph 

 435. Should pneumonia develop, treat as directed in paragraph 

 422. Animals should not be worked for at least two weeks after the 

 temperature has become normal. 



During an outbreak of influenza in a stable early morning tem- 

 peratures should be taken daily. Any animal showing increase of 

 temperature should be isolated. 



492. Contagious pneumonia (pleurppneumonia, infectious 

 pneumonia). An acute contagious and infectious disease affecting 

 the lungs and pleurae. Although rather slow in spreading from animal 

 to animal, it often causes great losses when once introduced into a stable. 



