INFLUENZA OF THE HORSE 313 



dried. By frequent application, say once every half-hour for 

 the first two hours after birth, the cord becomes thoroughly 

 mummified in two to four hours (Williams) . 



INFLUENZA OF THE HORSE. 



Under the collective term "influenza" intermittently have 

 been grouped together at least two acute, infectious diseases 

 one of which assumed the form of a general infection of the 

 blood with inflammation of the mucous membranes, subcutis, 

 tendon sheaths and tendons, and the other an infectious 

 lobar pneumonia or pleuropneumonia. From a purely clinical 

 standpoint some authorities (Dieckerhoff, Bang) have pro- 

 nounced influenza not to be a clinical entity. They assumed 

 that under this head at least two separate and distinct dis- 

 eases existed which differed in their pathogenesis, period of 

 incubation and symptomatology. They were therefore given 

 separate names. In Germany the catarrhal form was known 

 as "Staupe" (influenza) and the pectoral as " Brustseuche" 

 ("chest plague"). Dieckerhoff described a third disease, in- 

 cluded under the term influenza, which he called "Skalma." 



The recent experiments of Gaffky and Liihrs which con- 

 cerned the etiological factor primarily indicate that the term 

 "influenza" has been made too inclusive. Their results seem 

 to substantiate the work done by former authorities, espe- 

 cially Dieckerhoff and Bang. In the light of our present 

 knowledge it seems advisable to classify under the term 

 influenza two separate and distinct diseases: (a) Influenza. 

 (b) Infectious fibrinous pneumonia of the horse. 



Influenza of the Horse (Catarrhal Fever, Pink Eye, Typhoid 

 Fever) . — Definition. — Influenza is an acute contagio-infectious, 

 usually enzootic, disease of the horse which is characterized by 

 inflammation of the mucous membranes, subcutis, and ten- 

 dons. Jt is due to a filterable virus. 



Occurrence. — The disease is very wide-spread, occurring in 

 all countries. North America was visited by an epizootic of 

 influenza in 1776 and again in a still severer form in 1870-72 

 when it swept the continent from Canada to the Ohio, and 

 westward to California. The disease is now permanent in this 



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