EPIDEMIC CATARRH IN HORSES. 
163 
throughout the entire Eastern and Western States, carrying 
off thousands of valuable horses, the greater portion of 
which might have been saved had they been placed under 
the charge of scientific men ; but no sooner was one of these 
animals taken sick, than he was purged, and bled, as is usual 
with all stable-men ; for no matter what the disease may be, 
under which the horse labors, they cry for blood. The 
symptoms were a full, and slightly accelerated pulse, con- 
junctiva and Schneiderian membrane injected, a slight heav- 
ing at the flank, with entire loss of appetite: and in the 
course of eight or ten hours a sudden change would take 
place, — the pulse becoming slow and feeble, with considerable 
debility, so much so, that on attempting to move a horse in this 
stage, it is with difficulty he can stand; followed by a purulent 
discharge from the nostrils, which becomes quite fetid. As 
the disease gains ground, it involves the mucous membrane 
of the trachea ; pneumonia supervenes, and generally the 
animal dies. In these cases bleeding was almost certain 
death ; for instead of depletion, we were required to support 
the animal, both by stimulants and tonics, and where this 
rule was followed it was rare to lose a case if taken in due 
time. 
We have a disease which is very prevalent at the pre- 
sent time, but differing a little from the epidemics of 
former years, and not prevailing to such an extent, while if 
precautionary measures are taken in the early stage, there is 
little fear of a fatal termination, though I am informed that 
many horses have died throughout the country. 
The cause may be the sudden changes in the atmosphere, 
from heat to cold, and vice versa. An easterly wind has pre- 
vailed for a considerable time, and it is a well-known fact, 
that epidemics oftener prevail when the wind is in that 
quarter, than at any other time. Badly ventilated stables 
are one great cause of diseases in horses, and a stable where 
a large number of horses are congregated together is more 
liable to engender disease than any other, as the fumes which 
arise from the manure and urine, together with bad ventilation, 
must necessarily have a deleterious effect on such animals as 
may be confined in it, from the air becoming poisonous. 
And a horse coming out of the pure air where he has been at 
work, and having to inhale this poisoned atmosphere of the 
stable, there is no reason to wonder at his being sick, as 
common sense will dictate to every man, that unless he have 
an iron constitution, it will eventually bring him down. 
The symptoms of the prevailing disease, are, considerable 
swelling of the parotid and. submaxillary glands; watery 
