INFLUENZA OF THE HORSE 317 



cult. The prodromal Symptoms of the two diseases are very 

 similar. The high initial fever, the swelling and icteric dis- 

 coloration of the conjunctiva, the contagiousness and the 

 inflammatory swellings in the subcutis and tendon sheaths 

 are common to both. Usually, however, on the second or 

 third day in infectious pneumonia, tangible symptoms of 

 pneumonia develop; in influenza pneumonia occurs as a 

 complication, and usually much later in the course of the 

 disease. Furthermore, influenza is more apt to attack the 

 intestinal tract early. A differentiation between influenza 

 and infectious anemia would become important only in dis- 

 tricts in which the latter disease exists. In infectious anemia 

 no catarrhal symptoms develop, the mucous membranes show 

 petechiae, the blood serum is opalescent and plainly tinged 

 with red. Infectious anemia is not highly infectious. From 

 strangles influenza is distinguished by the tendency for lymph 

 glands to suppurate, which characterizes the former disease. 



Course. — The course is usually about one week or the disease 

 may terminate favorably in less time, provided no complica- 

 tions arise. When the disease progress is interrupted by 

 pneumonia, encephalitis, enteritis, or degeneration of the 

 heart muscle the course is protracted and the termination 

 fatal. As a rule, however, influenza is a mild disease, and 

 unless the patient is worked, kept in unsanitary surroundings, 

 or given too much medicinal treatment, recovery in a few 

 days is the rule. 



Prognosis. — The mortality is 1 to 4 per cent. During some 

 outbreaks the disease appears more malignant than in others, 

 and complications are commoner. The continuation of a 

 rather high fever for not longer than five or six days is per se 

 of no significance provided the pulse remains good, the patient 

 does not become dyspneic, and no diarrhea attend. 



Treatment. — Most important in the treatment of a self- 

 limiting disease like influenza is to provide the patient with 

 light, ventilation, and cleanliness. In mild sunny weather, if 

 at all feasible, place the patient out of doors during the day. 

 The food should be nourishing and easily digested, and given 

 in small rations (grass, alfalfa, a bran mash with plenty of 

 salt, scalded oats, etc.). To induce the patient to eat, some 



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