INFLUENZA. 559 



nowadays veiy rarely, if ever, assumes the malignant type 

 which characterized it in former years, but has changed its 

 nature, in consequence of the various modes of treatment 

 that have been practised. Third, the profession of to-day 

 better understand the treatment of disease in its various 

 forms than did the practitioners of fifty or a hundred 

 years ago, simply from the fact that we have profited by 

 their experience, and at the same time have been making 

 rapid advancement in the acquisition of knowledge pertain- 

 ing to disease, and the treatment thereof ; for, comparatively 

 unknown as it may be, it is, nevertheless, an undeniable fact, 

 that during the last few 3'ears the veterinary profession has 

 made ver}- rapid and upward progress, and so significant is 

 the advancement made, both as regards scientific and national 

 importance, that its parallel can not be shown even in the 

 annals of the sister profession. 



Its antiquity — the ever-varying phases in which it has 

 manifested itself — its intractability to treatment, showing a 

 most obstinate persistence in running a certain course — its 

 tendency to complications, etc., all combine to render in- 

 fluenza one of the most remarkable, as well as interesting, 

 diseases with which we have to deal, its peculiarities merit- 

 ing much greater notice than has been accorded to the 

 disease. Still this subject has received a great deal of atten- 

 tion from veterinarians and others Avho have made the 

 diseases of the brute creation a special study, from the 

 earliest ages up to the present day, and while they have 

 succeeded from time to time in making many valuable dis- 

 coveries as to its nature, and eff'ecting numerous reforms 

 regarding the treatment of the disease, they have as yet 

 been wholly unsuccessful in their endeavours to elucidate 

 and clear away the cloud of mystery involving its origin. 

 Many ingenious theories have been advanced from time to 

 time in the efforts to locate the primary cause of the disease 



