119 
THE INFLUENZA OF 1836. 
By Professor Stewart, Andersonian University , Glasgow. 
For three or four months back, the influenza has been very 
prevalent all over the west of Scotland. In the east, I under- 
stand, it has been comparatively scarce. In this quarter we are 
never entirely quit of it at any time. During the first nine or ten 
months of 1836, the cases were much more numerous than usual. 
But in November, December, and January, the disease raged to 
an unexampled extent. It suddenly invaded stables in all parts 
of the town; and wherever it appeared, it generally spread over 
the whole stud. Some escaped, but not many. It is now on the 
decline : the last fortnight has afforded few cases. 
As it has prevailed here, and hereabout, the influenza is not a 
new disease. It is the same influenza that we always have, es- 
pecially in spring and in autumn. If it was not contagious be- 
fore, it is so now ; but its increased or its new tendency to spread 
does not entitle us to regard it as a strange disease. There may 
be a little difference, but the resemblance is general. The dis- 
ease has been very common in the country, but not so generally 
contagious. In some stables there has been only one patient, 
but in the town all, or nearly all, the horses have been attacked 
wherever the disease has been introduced. 
There are two kinds of influenza. In both, the horse is fever- 
ed ; in both there is inflammation of a mucous membrane ; and in 
both the fever, or some other abnormal state of the system — 
which I shall call prefebrile — precedes, or follows, the inflamma- 
tion. In the one kind, the inflammation attacks the eyes, the 
nostrils, or the throat ; it is confined to the head, and may be 
termed the cephalic influenza, In the other kind, there is in- 
flammation in the lining membrane of the bronchi : this may 
be called the thoracic influenza. 
The prefebrile stage is very often overlooked or neglected. I 
have never seen it described. For two, three, or four days, 
and occasionally for so many as eight, the horse is dull, feeble, 
sluggish, staggering in his gait ; his coat is dry, and it starts on 
end after drinking, or upon the least exposure to cold ; he sweats 
soon; a little exertion quickens the breathing; the pulse is 
very little if at all altered ; the eye and nostrils are not red- 
der (often they are paler) than usual ; the horse eats his corn, 
but refuses a part or all of his hay ; he is eager for water; when 
closely watched in the stable, he may be observed to yawn fre- 
quently ; and at intervals he makes a deep inspiration, like a 
