Influenza or Horse-Ail. 137 



The disease may remain latent for weeks or months 

 before showing itself, hence the necessity of closely 

 watching the animal, if bitten or supposed to be bitten, 

 for some time, 



IKFLUENZA OR HORSE-AIL. 



This disease is most prevalent in cold, ungenial weath- 

 er, and is most frequent in the spring — a cold, wet 

 spring — and especially among young horses, and those 

 in high condition, or made up for sale, or that have been 

 kept in hot stables ; more generally in cities where a 

 large number are kept. If a horse can pass through this 

 disease and come out right side up, he can be safely 

 recommended as one having been through the mill. ' It 

 is, beyond doubt, contagious — sometimes raging over 

 large districts, so that scarcely a stable escapes, and at 

 others, being confined to a neighborhood. 



Symptoms. — Of these there is a great variety at its 

 commencement. The first symptom is, debility. The 

 horse appears dumpish, refuses to eat, mouth hot, pulse 

 quick ; in the course of six or twelve hours, the pulse in- 

 creases, appetite diminishes, legs and eye-hds swell, (usu- 

 ally increase to about the third day.) This disease may 

 end in distemper, chronic cough, a bad discharge from 

 the nose, and inveterate cases in glanders. 



Treatment. — Give the animal the benefit of a pure at- 

 mosphere. If the limbs are cold, give them a good rub- 

 bing. If the pulse is full and strong, (not otherwise,) 

 bleed with care. In some cases, it would be advisable 

 to bleed from the eye, or mouth. Strict attention should 

 be paid to the diet. No grain but mashes, gruel substi- 

 tuted for water; scalded shorts, green grass, and carrots, 

 if they can be procured, if not, hay, offered with the hand, 

 dipped in water salted. In some cases, it is necessary 

 to force them to eat, or give them an injection of gruel. 



