ON THE EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA OF 1830. 
027 
I have been most anxiously expecting, month after month, to 
see something concerning the influenza, with the best mode of 
treating this disease, from some of my brother veterinarians ; but 
as little or nothing has been said upon the subject, I will venture 
to trouble you with a few observations regarding it, as it has 
occurred in the course of my practice, and likewise state my 
general mode of treatment. 
The first symptom which I usually observe is a dead un- 
healthy appearance of the coat ; the head hanging under the 
manger ; the eyes nearly closed, and flowing with tears ; the 
ears and legs cold, the mouth dry and feverish ; the pulse acce- 
lerated to about from 55 to 60 beats in a minute ; the dung 
voided in small quantities; frequent attempts to void urine, but 
which escapes in very small quantities; loss of appetite; the mem- 
branes of the nose much reddened, and generally accompanied by 
a discharge of yellow viscid matter ; sore throat; swelled legs; 
great debility, and sometimes considerable cough. I therefore 
concluded from the commencement that it was epidemic influenza; 
and I was proud to find, by the few remarks upon the subject in 
the last number of The Veterinarian, that you agreed with 
me upon that head, for it was not allowed to be true influenza by 
numerous medical friends in this part of the country. 
Treatment . — Three drachms of Barbadoes aloes, one drachm of 
nitre, two drachms of tartarized antimony, one drachm of ginger ; 
soft soap sufficient to form into a proper consistency ; give this 
ball every morning until the bowels are moderately open : apply 
a blister to the throat; fomentations and bandages to the legs; 
bran mashes with a few oats, also carrots or Swedish turnips ; 
drench with linseed tea morning and evening ; oatmeal and water 
to be constantly within reach ; green meat, such as lucern or 
vetches (if to be procured), I have found of great benefit. The 
patient should be turned into a loose box, and there should be 
frequent handrubbing of the legs, &c. 
On my patient’s recovering, I gave mild tonic and diuretic 
medicine every other day, with half a pint of linseed in his corn 
morning and evening. By pursuing this mode of treatment, 
somewhat varied by the particular circumstances of the case, I 
have lost but four patients out of more than three hundred that 
have been submitted to my care. 
I subjoin the symptoms and treatment of an individual case 
by way of illustration. 
This was a grey cob, belonging to Edward Misters, Esq. 
It had been ridden as a hack for two years, and appeared perfectly 
well on the night of the l*3th of April, when he was racked up. 
On the following morning he shewed symptoms of cold, and a 
sort of short cough. He was immediately bled by Mr. Misters’ 
