CHAPTER I. 



GENERAL DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Injiucnza. Strangles. Glanders and Farey. Anthrax or Charbon; 

 Anthracoid Diseases^ Glossanthrax and AntJiraeoid Angina. Starlet 

 Fever and Purpura. General diseases of the Horse due to errors in 

 dieting and management : IVeed or Lymphangitis ; Diabetes Insipidus^ 

 Diabetes Mellitus; Oxaluriaj Azotut-ia. Tetanus or Lock-jaw. 

 Rheumatism. Acute., Chronic, and Muscular. Rabies or Hydrophobia. 



INFLUENZA OR DISTEMPER. 



There are perhaps few diseases to which the horse is liable so well 

 known as "influenza" or ''distemper," and there are few which vary 

 so widely in intensity and diversity of form as does this protean malady. 



This disease was first termed "influenza" in the seventeenth century by 

 the Italians, who attributed its origin to the influence of the stars. In 

 addition to the morepopular names, influenzahasalsobeen called "theepidemic" 

 and " epizootic catarrhal fever," and has also received special appellations, 

 such as "pink eye" or pneumo-enteric fever, according to the form and 

 character which it assumes. Even so early as the beginning of the fourteenth 

 century, influenza is recorded to have broken out at Seville, and many 

 horses then fell victims to its ravages. In the years 1688 and 1693, severe 

 epidemics of influenza occurred throughout Europe, and they were followed by 

 the appearance of a similar fever in man. 



Influenza is widely distributed over the Old and New Worlds, and when 

 once manifested shows a marked tendency to travel, usually westward. The 

 parts more particularly affected by the disease are the lining membranes of 

 the nose, throat, and upper part of the wind-pipe, and its continuation into 

 the lungs. 



Of the actual causes of influenza so little is definitely known that we 

 shall not perplex our readers by promulgating uncertain theories. As far as 

 we know, however, influenza has not )-et been proved to be influenced by 

 atmospheric or astronomical causes ; nor is its origin in any way connected 

 with the special geological conformation of the strata of the earth's surface. 



