EPIDEMIC AMONG HORSES IN FORT RANDALL, NEB. 
175 
relief. Bleeding in the feet was tried, but its effect was merely 
temporary. Every case of disease originated on the lower side 
of the dry ravine, above alluded to. After forage was provided 
for the horses no new cases occurred, and hence it is fair to infer, 
that a liberal allowance of forage in the beginning might have 
rendered the disease much less fatal, or have prevented it. 
Whether the disease was caused by eating any poisonous herbs, or 
propagated in any manner by contagion, could not be satisfac¬ 
torily determined, the origin and progress of the malady being 
something entirely new, even to the Indians or half-breeds of the 
country. One post-mortem was made of a horse that died late in 
the winter, but developed nothing important; one lung was dis¬ 
eased, about one-third of the stomach was denuded of its inner lin¬ 
ing, and contained botts and with the large intestines inflamed. It 
is well to remark that we have no veterinary surgeons in our ser¬ 
vice, and consequently when these noble animals become seriously 
sick, they almost invariably die. 
“ If, and undoubtedly with full warrant, the cause of the disease 
was looked for in the food partaken, why did not the doctor take 
the pains to examine the pasture ground and search for the 
poisonous herbs ? Probably he would have found ergot, or 
vostilaginum, and the like. 
“ But if the American Army has no veterinary surgeons, then, 
certainly, the human physicians must make themselves familiar 
with the diseases of horses.” 
K. F. H, 
This is an illustration which, gives rise to the question, not 
only to the honorable, aged investigator, one of the most promi¬ 
nent pioneers of medical authorities of Europe, but also to every 
person with sentiment, when lie pictures to himself the situation 
of the army horses, how it is that the Government of the United 
States could have so long neglected to furnish the necessary 
veterinary assistance for the respective troops, after the losses 
which originated from the irrational manner of treatment and 
exposure of animals that are endowed with feeling and conscious¬ 
ness as well as ourselves. Undoubtedly this delay is attributable 
