L74 
K. F. HENSINGER. 
“The station of the regiments concerned is Fort Randall, in 
Nebraska, on the right bank of the Missouri, 43°01' N. lat., 99 T2' 
W. Ion., 1,245 feet above the level of the sea, on the most remote 
hills that border the endless prairie, opposite the Sioux and other 
Indians. Adequate to the situation, continually cold in the win¬ 
ter, the lowest point—26° F. highest 104°; earliest frost on the 
2Gth September, the last on May 15th, but often much later, even 
in August; the Missouri frozen over from the beginning of De¬ 
cember until March 1st. (It is one of the healthiest stations for 
human beings). 
“A very fatal disease manifested itself among the dragoon 
horses, which is supposed not to have been described in works on 
veterinary surgery. Four companies of the Second Dragoons ar¬ 
rived at this port about the 10th of August, 1856, one squadron 
from Fort Lookout, and one from Big Sioux river, the latter ac¬ 
companied by a number of new or remount horses. The four 
companies encamped on the east or lower side of the dry ravine, 
separating the dragoons and infantry camps. About the 20th of 
August the disease commenced simultaneously in all four com¬ 
panies, and many horses died, not, however, until after the lapse 
of weeks and months. The following symptoms were observed : 
first, that among the remount horses from below was a sort of 
catarrh, or distemper, with running at the nose, and among all 
the horses a swelling of the skin of the throat and jaw; also in¬ 
flammation, swelling, and suppuration of the sheath, tenderness 
and inflammation of the feet, followed by suppuration at the 
point where the hoof joins the skin, the hoof, in a measure, de- 
tatching itself, and a new one forming in its place. These were 
also accompanied by a loss of manes and tails. The appetite was 
uniformly good ; but from extreme tenderness of the feet, they 
were unable to move about in search of food, and it appears that at 
that time they were entirely dependent upon grazing, there being 
no forage at the port of issue. Sorrel horses appeared to suffer 
most, but no color escaped. The private horses of officers shared 
the fate of public animals. A few mules and Indian ponies were 
similarly affected. The acclimated suffered equally with the un¬ 
acclimated. No treatment was effectual, or afforded permanent 
