ON INFLUENZA IN AMERICA. 
255 
and breaking up of its structure, engorgement of the vessels of 
the lungs. The mucous membranes of the respiratory tract were 
highly injected. In many instances those whose pulses were 
as high as 80 in a minute and breathing up to 40 per minute 
ate, comparatively speaking, well, yet there were others 
whose systems were not half so much disturbed that would 
not partake of food of any kind. The aqueous discharge as a 
rule very quickly ran on to one of a muco-purulent character; 
some cases did not present this symptom at all. At the height 
of the disease the pulse was intermittent, but not in every 
case. In some instances the liver seemed to be the principal 
part attacked, the patient would flinch on pressure being 
applied over that region. In such cases constipation and 
colic existed, as a rule, which doubtless was due to the 
paucity of bile. 
There was a slight amount of cerebral disturbance in a few 
cases only, indicated by drowsiness, unwillingness to move, 
holding the head to one side and sometimes resting it on the 
manger. Diarrhoea existed in some cases, but not to a great 
extent. Such was the variety of symptoms assumed in dif¬ 
ferent cases. The duration of the disease varied from five to 
fourteen days. It even extended on to twenty-one days in a 
few cases only. 
Its results .—Pleurisy was the principal unfavorable ter¬ 
mination, and followed those cases which were most pro¬ 
tracted. Among the others which came under my notice 
were pneumonia, hepatitis, chronic softening and enlargement 
of the liver, chronic cough, roaring and whistling, and (the 
most fatal of all) purpura haemorrhagica of a sthenic form. 
Its attack was sudden and victimised those horses that were 
least affected by the influenza. 
I am unable to give the post-mortem appearances of the 
disease, not having met with a single death from influenza 
itself. Where death occurred it was due to one or other of 
the results which presented their several characteristic autop- 
sical appearances. 
The Causes and Pathology .—What can the cause of this 
vast outbreak of disease have been ? 
Is it due to contagion and infection, or to impure air arising 
from badly ventilated stables ? Does it arise from exposure 
to cold or wet or sudden changes of temperature ? 
I believe influenza to be due to some peculiar poison exist¬ 
ing in the atmosphere which when taken into the system causes 
a specific form of inflammation of the mucous membranes 
generally, but principally those of the respiratory tract, 
together with an impaired action of the liver. No doubt 
