6 
After we have either satisfied ourselves that the hygiene of our stables is 
not at fault, or have carefully attended to them when defective, we should 
proceed to isolate the infected animals, and to disinfect the contaminated 
stalls. As is well known, infectious diseases are so termed owing to the fact 
that animals affected throw off either in their breath or from their body, or 
from both, the poison of the malady. The poison, or rather the germs of the 
disease, consist in all probability in this, as in other infectious diseases, of 
living vegetable fungi of very microscopic size. They are volatile, and when 
they gain access to the system, multiply at an enormous rate. In disinfecting, 
our object is to diffuse a chemical agent, which by destroying them will 
remove the infection still lingering in the unhealthy stalls. 
We do not purpose here to enter into the life history of these low forms 
of vegetable life, but must point out that their multiplication and dissemination 
outside the body can be largely prevented by stringent measures. Thus it is- 
well in outbreaks of influenza to wash the harness and fittings, and to purify 
the drains with a solution of crude carbolic acid, which can be easily procured 
from any chemist. One can make a solution by mixing equal parts of carbolic 
acid and soft soap and adding a sufficiency of boiling water. Asa lime wash 
for disinfecting purposes, half a pint of crude carbolic acid may be mixed with 
each bucketful of lime-wash for the walls. This method of purifying the stable 
is avery useful one. One of the most powerful volatile disinfectants which 
we have is chlorine gas, which may be generated in the following manner :— 
take two pounds of chloride of lime, in an old basin or earthenware pot, 
remove all the horses, shut all windows and casements, add four ounces or 
strong oil of vitriol, and stir the mixture with a stick, taking care not to inhale 
the gas. Then quickly leave the stable and shut the door. In four or five 
hours the windows and doors may be opened, and after the escape of the gas, 
the stable may be entered, when it will be well purified from noxious germs 
of disease. Some authors prefer sulphurous oxide gas, which may be 
generated by placing sulphur on burning embers in an, earthenware pot. 
The same precautions should be taken as in the case of chlorine gas. 
In mild forms of influenza but little medicinal treatment is generally 
necessary. The animal should be placed in a comfortable and not draughty 
loose-box. He should have careful nursing, and be seen, except in mild cases, 
at least once every alternate day by the veterinary surgeon. 
We will now say a few words as to the medical treatment of mild cases’ 
of influenza. Frequently has the writer heard owners of horses and stock ‘ 
declare that when they have influenza among their horses they continue to 
work them until well. This is a very great and very serious mistake. Numbers 
and numbers of neglected cases of influenza have proved very troublesome 
and fatal in consequence of such carelessness. Only a short time agoa 
gentleman had a case of influenza in a valuable six-year-old cart stallion. He 
administered’ an overdose of aloes, and thought, no doubt, that the animal 
would soon be well. On the contrary, he became much worse, and the 
writer was called in. The lungs were found to be diseased, and water in the 
chest was diagnosed. Two days afterwards the animal died, and four gallons 
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