54 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS AND AIR PASSAGES. 



PINK EYE AND HORSE AIL* — (Influenza.) 



It will be seen that very little idea can be gained of the nature 

 of the disease under which the subject suffers from the above 

 terms ; they have their meaning, however, among horse dealers. 

 Any affection of the respiratory organs, from laryngitis to influ- 

 enza, strangles included, are all considered under the above head 

 by some. The disease we propose to enlighten the reader on in 

 this article is influenza; that veritable disease which usually 

 attacks green horses, as they are called, shortly after their first 

 introduction to city life, although it may occur in the country as 

 well as the city. The time of its appearance is generally in the 

 spring, when horse dealers crowd the city stables with sale horses. 

 This is the most trying period of a horse's life, and generally 

 tests his metal. The sudden change from a pure atmosphere to 

 one contaminated with ammoniacal gases, and other injurious va 

 pors, also the change of food, water, and habits, are calculated to 

 impair the health of even an old stager, whatever might be their 

 effect on a young horse. If he can withstand these incursions on 

 the sanitary laws of his existence, and at the same time pass safely 

 through an attack of "pink-eye" — influenza, — and come out right 

 side up, his owner can confidently recommend him to any pur- 

 chaser as one having been through the mill. 



We do not wish the reader to confound influenza with catarrh 

 or strangles, {which see ;) although influenza may finally as- 

 sume the form of strangles, or end in a bad discharge from the 

 nose, chronic cough, &c, and in inveterate cases, may terminate 

 in glanders. 



The principal features of influenza are, that it appears at cer- 



* These terms are used by horsemen in New England to denote a kind of 

 catarrh or influenza, that often breaks out among young horses at particular 

 seasons of the year, and seems to rage more in some stables than others. It 

 is the general opinion that all horses must have an attack of this sort once in 

 their lives. Therefore a horse that has once had it is considered acclimated, 

 and his owner finds a more ready sale for him than for one that has not had 

 this affection. 



