418 
EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
EQUINE DISTEMPER, 
(INFLUENZA ERYSIPELATOSA EQUORUM. FEBRIS CATARRHALIS 
EPIDEMICA* CONTAGIOSA EQUORUM). 
By Professor Dieckerhoff, Berlin Royal Veterinary ScHOOL.t 
Since the spring of the present year, the equine population of 
France and Germany has been visited by an epizootic, which, in 
the literature of the last few years, has been principally discussed 
under the title of “ Influenza,” or a particular form of influenza. 
Its character and nomenclature are subjects upon which pro¬ 
fessional men hold the most contrary views. In the hope of 
assisting to solve these difficulties, I venture to offer a few general 
remarks upon the disease to the readers of this journal. 
The history of veterinary science shows the malady to be by 
no means a new one. Solleysel observed it in Germany in 1648. 
It was widely diffused over Western Europe in 1688 and 1699. 
Great numbers of horses were affected in Europe in 1711 and 
1712; again in 1732, as well as in 1767 and 1776. In 1786, 
breaking out afresh in Hanover, it gradually extended to Southern 
Germany and Italy. When in 1804 and 1806, it visited Den¬ 
mark, Germany, Italy, and other portions of Western Europe, it 
received a great amount of attention from the veterinarians of 
that time. They bestowed upon it such names as, Influenza, Nerv¬ 
ous Catarrhal Fever, etc. In the ever-inemorable years of 1813 
and 1814, the Russian army imported it into North Germany, 
from which circumstance it became known as the “ Russian horse- 
sickness.” The years 1824 and 1825 were characterised by its 
general distribution in France and South and West Germany. 
Girard designated it “ Gastro-Enterite,” whilst in Germany it was 
frequently spoken of as “ The French-sickness.” “ Horse-typhus,” 
“ Pulmonal-typhus,” and i£ Typhoid Influenza,” are others of the 
many terms which it has at various times received. In 1851 
North Germany, and especially Berlin, were once more the seats 
* Epizootica (?)—Translator. 
1 Translated from “Adam’s Wochenschrift fur Thierheilkunde und Vieh- 
zuclit.” September, 1881. By W. F. Garside, M.R.C.V.S. 
