50 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



The first recorded outbreak of this malady occurred at 

 Seville, in the beginning of the 14th century. In the years 

 1688 and 1693, severe epidemics occurred throughout Europe. 

 In these epidemics horses were first afFefcted, and then 

 followed similar fevers in man. The last great outbreaks 

 in this country were in the years 1863, 1864, and 1871 

 and 1872. The disease is widely distributed over the old 

 and new worlds. 



Varieties and Complicated Forms. — (1) The usual simple 

 catarrhal form ; (2) Complicated forms are — 



A. The thoracic form. 



B. The abdominal form. 



C. The rheumatic form. 

 Prognosis. — Usually favourable. 



Sequelae. — If the pericardium be affected, pericardial 

 adhesions may result, and if the heart be afi'ected valve 

 lesions may remain. 



The upper air-passages may be so altered as to cause 

 abnormal sounds, as, for example, roaring. 



Etiology. — This disease appears in all climes and at all 

 periods of the year, but is more prevalent in spring and 

 autumn. It affects alike animals of all ages, breeds, and 

 sex. It is not proved to be influenced by geological strata, 

 climatic or astronomical causes. Animals are predisposed to 

 attack by bad sanitary conditions, e.g.^ by overcrowded 

 stables and defective ventilation. 



General Symptoms of Influenza.— Great prostration, with 

 catarrhal inflammation of the respiratory, and sometimes 

 of the other, mucous membranes, accompanied by pyrexial 

 symptoms, characterize all the varieties of influenza. 



Symptoms of the Uncomplicated Catarrhal Form.— In 

 many cases the constitutional symptoms are but slightly 

 marked. The legs and ears are usually cold, and there is 

 a short irritable cough and sneezins:. The throat is some- 



