CHAPTEE XI. 



GENERAL, CONTAGIOUS, AND ENZOOTIC DISEASES. 



Influenza, Pink Eye, Catarrhal Fever, Epizootic Catarrh, Horse Distemper, 

 Horse Sickness, Febris Pyogenica, Colt Distemper, Colt III, Strangles, Glan- 

 ders, Farcy, Equina, Erysipelas, Purpura Hemorrhagica, Spotted Fever, 

 Scarlatina, Scarlet Fever, Rheumatism, Dropsy, Ascites, CEdema, Hydro- 

 thorax. 



INFLUENZA. 



Synonyms. — Pink eye; Catarrhal fever; Epizootic catarrh; Horse 

 distemper; Horse sickness. 



Definition. — Influenza is an epizootic febrile disease, accompanied 

 by loss of appetite, great prostration of strength, and often complicated 

 with- disease of the liver, lungs, and mucous membranes generally, and 

 sometimes with affections of the heart. In all cases the nervous system 

 is affected to a great extent, and indeed, most of the more prominent 

 symptoms may be regarded mainly as results of depression of the nervous 

 centres. The cause of this depression is the presence of a specific poison 

 in the blood. The respiratory organs are always involved. Influenza 

 generally prevails as an epizootic, and is considered by some to be con- 

 tagious. 



Etiology. — Influenza has its origin in some peculiar and unknown 

 condition of the atmosphere, which exercises a specific injurious influence 

 on the health of animals. 



Other causes, such as bad ventilation, dirty stables, an insufficient 

 supply of nutritious food, bad forage, or debility, predispose to the dis- 

 ease. Animals crowded together in damp, ill-ventilated, and otherwise 

 unhealthy situations, are generally the first to suffer from influenza. In 

 them it commits its greatest havoc. Young horses are more predisposed 



