478 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS 
epidemic seasons, likewise, an easterly wind with a hot sun has 
been the prevailing state of the weather. 
The generic form of the present influenza, pathologically re¬ 
garded, is catarrhal. The mucous lining of the air-passages is its 
primary and principal seat; and its specitic character is laryngitis, 
complicated in some instances with bronchitis. Sometimes the dis¬ 
ease involves the pleura; and now and then the membranous lin¬ 
ing of the joints, or that of the bowels. In some subjects its attack 
is so slight that it hardly attracts notice. On the other hand, influ¬ 
enza may set in with manifestations of uneasiness and pain, and 
so create in the mind of the beholder more or less alarm for the 
patient. Commonly, the horse is first observed to be languid and 
dull; to refuse part of his food; and occasionally to utter a short, 
dry, half-suppressed cough ; though now and then it happens that, 
in consequence of the attack being severe and sudden, the horse 
is at once seized with short and quick breathing, and accelerated 
pulse. In either case his great complaint is extreme soreness of 
throat, causing the animal to make every effort to suppress or miti¬ 
gate his cough, the source of so much pain to him. When the attack 
manifests itself in this severe form, there is seldom at first any dis¬ 
charge from the nose; though this is a symptom so desirable, from 
the relief it affords to the congested membrane of the air-passages, 
that much of our treatment should be directed towards its promo¬ 
tion. Now and then, however, the nasal flux is a most prominent 
symptom; the quantity of muco-purulent matters emitted so great, 
that not only do they run in profusion through the nostrils, but are 
coughed up also through the fauces into the mouth, occasioning the 
animal to slaver by freely mingling therein with the salivary 
secretion. All this, we repeat, tends very much to the relief of 
the sore throat and painful cough, while it mitigates or keeps off 
pulmonary disturbance. 
Bronchitis may accompany the disorder, and it may be combined 
or followed by pleurisy or by rheumatic affection, or by bowel 
irritation. These several affections, however, are, according to 
our views, modified in their types and tendencies by the influenza 
present. We do not regard the bronchitic or the pleuritic disease, 
the accompaniment or sequel of influenza, the same as bronchitis 
or pleuritis under ordinary circumstances. Oftentimes the agitated 
