ON INFLUENZA IN AMERICA. 251 
dian cities thence to the United States, and finally made its 
appearance in this province and Nova Scotia. 
The disease was one of an extraordinarily severe type, and 
in many places was rather fatal. In Rochester and Buffalo, 
U.S., the fatality arrived at an alarming extent, yet in New 
York and Boston, though the demand for horses is much 
greater, the percentage of deaths from the malady according 
to the press of those places was much less. The disease, 
consequent upon its being a stranger in this country, has 
received many strange terms; among them will be found 
catarrhal fever, typhoid, laryngitis, epizootic bronchitis, 
hippomalarious, Canadian horse distemper, and epizootic 
influenza, which I think is the most correct of all. 
Influenza, doubtless, cannot be 'regarded as a new disease 
on this Continent, for a few cases of it came under my own 
notice some time before it appeared in its malignant form, and 
instances are recorded by veterinary surgeons who have 
practised for many years in America, of its attacking horses 
in some few and isolated cases. Yet, from what I can learn, 
I think it cannot be doubted but that it is the first time in 
which it appeared on this Continent as an epizootic. 
Its outbreak in St. John’s , N.B .—On October 13th I was 
called upon to attend at one of the livery stables in this city. 
On my arrival at the stable the proprietor informed me that 
one of his horses (a valuable trotter) had refused his food for 
the first time this morning, and that he was afraid of the 
epizootic (as he termed it) having attacked him. On inquir¬ 
ing into the history of his case I ascertained that he had not 
been out for over a week, and never unless the weather was 
fine, that his coat had been staring for two days previously, 
and that they put heavier clothing on him, thinking he was 
cold. He had not been heard to cough up to the time I got 
to the stable, and did not drink all his water that morning, 
which was a very unusual circumstance. On examination I 
found the following symptoms which led me to the belief that 
he was affected with a severe attack of influenza. Symptoms. 
—The animal appeared dull and dispirited; pulse 62 and 
weak,respirations much increased,22in a minute. The expired 
air was not much hotter than natural, equal temperature of 
body, yellowness of the visible mucous membranes, but 
absence of enlargement and of pain on pressure over the 
region of the liver, Schneiderian and conjunctival membranes 
highly injected, and an aqueous discharge from eyes and 
nostrils. He evinced pain on pressure to the larynx and 
gave a weak and painful cough, yet strange to say did not 
appear to have any difficulty in swallowing. The mouth 
XLVI. 18 
