INFLUENZA. 347 



intensity of this virulence seems to become exhausted, and the 

 microbe again is transformed to its original miasmatic nature, 

 often to remain dormant until some cause is brought into opera- 

 tion by which its morbific effects are again reproduced. 



1st. — PANZOOTIC CATARRHAL FEVER OR INFLUENZA. 



An epizootic febrile disease attended with great prostration of 

 strength, and with early inflammation of the nasal, laryngeal, 

 and sometim.es bronchial mucous membrane, complicated with 

 irritability of the digestive mucous membrane. Occasionally 

 the disease implicates the substance of the lungs, pleura, liver, 

 the fibrous structures of the articulations, theciTe of muscles and 

 tendons, and the connective tissue of various parts of the body. 



Synonyms. — Distemper; epidemic catarrh ; epizootic catarrhal 

 fever ; (F.) courhaticre, morfondure ; (L.) febris catarrhalis, de- 

 fluxio catarrhalis, &c. The disease was first called influenza in 

 Italy in the seventeenth century, because it was attributed to 

 the influence of the stars. 



Panzootic catarrhal fever or influenza has a very early history, 

 but to trace this would be beyond the purpose of this work. 

 In 1299 it appeared in Seville, and is referred to by the veteri- 

 narians Martin Arrendondo and Fernando Calvo, who derived 

 their information from Laurentius Eusius. It killed more than 

 one thousand horses and seemed to be incurable. 



" In 1648 an epizootic broke out amongst the horses of the 

 French army in Germany, and is described by Solleysell. It began 

 by fever, great prostration, and tears running from the eyes, and 

 there was an abundant discharge of a greenish colour from the 

 nostrils." — (Fleming.) In 1688 influenza was prevalent over the 

 whole of Europe, affecting both men and horses. In 1 699 Europe 

 and America suffered from the disease, and again in 1732 it pre- 

 vailed in both hemispheres. In 1767 it (mce more appeared in both 

 hemispheres, and it is recorded that both horses and dogs were 

 liable to its attacks. In 1776, after a very severe winter and warm 

 summer, with an earthquake in Wales, influenza spread over 

 Europe, attacking horses and dogs first, and human beings after. 

 Poultry died in great numbers of an epizootic with defluxion 

 from the eyes. This epizootic was observed in Edinburgh in 

 December, and in England at the commencement of January 



