326 VETERINARY LECTURES 



522. Influenza is a fever of a specific character, varying very 

 much in degree according to the nature of the attack and the condi- 

 tion of the patient, of an epizootic type, and may be regarded as 

 a morbid condition of the blood. Some cases are very slight, while 

 others are of a more virulent type, being accompanied by great 

 prostration and general debility. Influenza in the horse has an 

 incubative stage of about four or five days, and the duration of an 

 attack varies from ten days to even twenty days. It is of a very 

 infectious nature, and usually follows in the wake of traders in horses, 

 all classes of horses being subject to its influence. It makes itself 

 manifest in four different forms, such as — (1) simple catarrhal 

 fever ; (2) catarrh, with chest complications ; (3) catarrh, 

 with bilious fever ; and (4) cedematous or exudative cellulitis, 

 recognizable by the swollen limbs or eyelids. 



523. Simple Catarrhal Fever resembles very much simple 

 catarrh, or common cold {par. 494). The symptoms are somewhat 

 analogous, and similar treatment can be adopted. 



524. Catarrh, with Chest Complications, is of a more critical 

 character, as the lungs, bronchial tubes, pleura, and the heart cover- 

 ings become implicated. The breathing is very mdch quickened, 

 and the temperature runs up to 106 and 107 F., while the eyes and 

 nose discharge quantities of matter. The symptoms are somewhat 

 similar to those seen in bronchitis (par. 510), and the treatment should 

 be as stated in pars. 511 and 512. 



525. Catarrh and Bilious Fever.— In these cases the distin- 

 guishing difference in the symptoms is the yellowness of the under 

 side of the eyelids and the lining membrane of the nose and mouth. 

 The attack may come on suddenly, with slight symptoms of colic, 

 or it may crawl on insidiously for two or three days before making 

 itself manifest, when the animal becomes very dejected and weak. 

 The treatment is similar to that noted for the two former cases, with 

 the addition of small doses of calomel, which I find to answer well 

 when given in J-drachm doses in a little mash, or in a ball every 

 eight hours until three doses are administered. 



