INFLUENZA AS AFFECTING THE HORSES OF AMERICA. Ill 
would undoubtedly be preferable, if too long a period had 
not elapsed before its performance. The consequences arising 
from the introduction of young or new stock into pastures 
where such plants abound, and the fact that cows had pas¬ 
tured in the one for a number of years with no bad results, 
indicates the importance of being acquainted with the nature 
and properties of vegetable poisons. 
REMARKS ON INFLUENZA AS AFFECTING THE 
HORSES OF AMERICA. 
By L. Y. Plageman, M.R.C.Y.S., Brooklyn, New York. 
Having observed, in your November number, that.you 
were desirous of hearing from some American veterinary 
surgeon something about the influenza in horses, I send you 
a few short notes on the subject. The epizootic first made 
its appearance in this city on the 22nd day of October, 1872, 
on which day thirteen cases came under my care. 
The disease was immediately recognised as influenza, hut 
somewhat modified in the character it ordinarily assumes 
here, year by year, in the spring. 
The immediate cause, in my estimation, depended on some 
electrical changes in the atmosphere. 
The symptoms in the early stage of influenza are, a short 
dry cough; watery defluxion from the eyes and nostrils; partial 
loss of appetite; pulse feeble, often indistinct, and averaging 
about 50 in the minute. Febrile symptoms are but slightly 
developed; the respiration is scarcely affected, and ffeces are 
natural. 
This stage of the malady usually lasts four or five days, 
when the pulse increases from 60 to 80; the visible mucous 
membranes become injected, nasal discharge thick, and 
of a white or greyish colour; respiration increased; urine 
scanty and high coloured; ffeces hard; mucous rattling* in 
the trachea; many cases running into bronchitis and 
pneumonia. 
At the commencement of the attack I usually administered 
Carb. Ammon, in doses of two to four drachms daily; also 
Nitrate Potash in two-drachm doses in water. Stimulated 
the throat with ammoniacal liniment; gave linseed tea and 
bran mashes with scalded oats, apples, and carrots; put on extra 
clothing to body and legs; disinfected the stables with carbolic 
