INFLUENZA IN HORSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 6

INFLUENZA IN HORSES.

A recently-published essay on "Influenza in Horses," by Robert Wilson, V.S., has been much extolled by agricultural journals in Great Britain, and is capable and deserving of wide appreciation in this colony, where outbreaks of the disease are of frequent occurrence, and its nature and symptoms not being clearly understood, improper treatment of the animals is the consequence.

Mr Wilson describes it as an infectious disease, 3haracterised by a low or £übacute type of inflammation of the respiratory organs, evidenced by great prostration, and not infrequently terminating in death. It propagates itself as an epizootic, that is to say, spreads over a district, and although as- a rule affecting primarily the lungs, it involves the circulatory system mucous membrane of the intestdnes, the eyes, etc., and also invades the tissues of the body lying directly under the skin (subcutaneous). The diseae is caused by micro-organisms, called bacilli, and- when these are placed under the microscope, they appear in the form of very minute rods.* They are found chiefly in the respiratory passages. This microbe has been cultivated, and reproduces the- disease not only in horses, but in mice, rabbits, and pigeons. In addition, and probably through the action of this microbe, pus or matter, produced, vwhich is probably the chief factors..- in the disease when the intestines and other abdominal organs are implicated. In ordinary influenza serious complications are infrequent, but the type of the disease which occurs one year may be quite different in the next outbreak.

The true epizootic invasions of influenza have always been characterised by the extraordinary rapidity with which ''the disease spreads in towns and certain dis- j tricts ; all the animals being affected about the same time. This fact has led to the view held by some people that the disease j is not contagious from animal to animal, but is borne simultaneously by the air to many. Sudden exposure to changes of I temperature appear to assist the development of the poison? and .cold is said to predispose to the affection, but neither of j these conditions will of themselves produce th.B disease. Overcrowding in bodly-drained and ill-ventilated stables is a predisposing cause, ahd it is among horses so situated that we 'recognise the first and frequently; most dangerous cases of the disease. Overwork and bad feeding, through causing debility, render animals more subject to attack, but no amount of care in the bestregulated stables will render the inmates immune from the malady. Influenza by inoculation of the matter from the nostrils of an affected animal occurs in the ass and mule, but is not transferable tc or from man. Here it may be pointed out, as a matter of considerable importance, that these microbes may persist for weeks after the symptoms of the disease have disappeared. They may be present in large" numbers ~in the nasal secretion, generally mixed with a considerable number of other organisms, but it is in the small masses of greenish-yellow discharge which originates in the smaller bronchial tubes in the lungs that they occur in the largest numbers, and in many cases almost in a state of purity, and ever ready to attack a susceptible animal as they are blown about by the wind after being* dried, thus spreading the disease.'

Symptoms. — In the majority of cases the disease show® itself very suddenly, the period of incubation or hatching, as a rule, being short; three or four days or a little more. Great weakness of the muscular system is evidenced almost at once, the horse, sways on his hind legs if attempts are made to move* him, and to such an extent that occasionally through ignorance, in some instances, the animal has been treated for "lammitis or founder," inflammation of the soft structures of the fore feet situated' between the pedal bone and the hoof. Evidently there are muscular pains in the loins and other parts of the body. These, as a rule, are the first si^aa noticed. The fact; of the sudden prostration, and its affecting in large stables many animals at the same time and without any apparent cause, should at once distinguish if from an ordinary cold or bronchitis.

Ifc usually prevails at the end of autumn or the beginning of winter, when the weather is wet and unhealthy, or in the spring of the* year, but the- fact that a number of horses are soispd with sirr.il.st symptoms, either at fclie ®arna time or rapidly following each other, should easily differentiate the disease at any time-.

As first noticed, there is generally a staring coat, legs, ears, and nose are cold, redness and diyness of the lining membranes of the nostrils and elevation of the .^flTj^ralujg of the bodjr to lQ2de£ or

103deg Fahr., but which frequently fal'S! within 24 to 48 hours. The urine is scanty and high coloured. The specific effects of the poison increase upon the lining membrane of the nostrils, and, through continuity of structure, attacks the coverings of the eyes, the mucous membrane of the throat and respiratory passages, as well as the internal mucous membrane and the lining of the biliary ducts or tiibes in the liver. The symptoms increase in intensity for two or three days, tha head hangs down, breathing is short, and the respirations are increased in. number. In health the respiration — that is, the expirations and inspirations, should be about one to every four beats of the pulse. By watching the flank or abdomen, and laying the hand upon it, it will be found that the respirations have considerably- increased. The normal pulse in a healthy horse varies according to age and surrounding conditions from 36 to 44 beats par minute. The temperature of the body may increase from the natural, rather under lOOdeg, to 104 or 105 degrees Fahr., and the cough, may xhange its character to one of deeper tone, or one of a paroxysmal nature."

Treatment. — Isolate infected animals. Disinfect stables and adjoining conveniences daily. Have a special attendant for the sick animals ; a comfortable loose-box, if possible, for the reception of each patient. The temperature should be from 60deg to 65deg Fahr. Clothe the animal with rugand hood, and apply flannel bandages to the legs. Avoid purgatives. Remember you have a very weakening disease to contend with, and that the animal will require all his reserve or latent energy to pull him through. Regulate the bowels as far as possible by the judicious use of food if the patient will eat. If constipation is present give enemas of tepid water ard soap by fche rectum, and should diarrhoea occur, if not excessive," do not check it. In mild attacks but little medicinal treatment is required, the principal necessaries being good ventilation ond careful nursing. Give small quantities of scalded bran, and cut into slices a few carrots and mix with it. Allow carrots by themselves. Should the animal foel inclined for hay, as is frequently the case, keep it from him, for the reason that it takes up too much room in the stomach, and is not digested on account of the partial arrest of the secretions, also the stomach has lost tone, and may not ' be able to pass the hay into the intestine, in, this way interfering with the action of the already diseased lungs. If fche bran is not eaten in a reasonable -time remove it, and offer a fresh allowance mixed with a few scaldied oats.

In the first stag&s of the- disease ad- :. minister two drachm doses of dialysed iron, liquor ferri dialysatus of the British pharmacopoeia, in conjunction with loz of tinoture of columba, and l£oz of sulphuric eth&r, in about a pint of water, at least three times daily. A special preparation of iron is mentioned, as it -is- the only preparation of thst class of medicines "that is afc ; all likely: to be absorbed into the blood, i and also as it supplies a want existing in it — namely, the nourishment of the red corpuscles, the minute globules that carry the oxygen of the air and distribute it through the tissues of the body.

Bacteria or germs cannot propagate their spieces in the presence of almost the slightest trace of iron in solution ; ifc destroj's the pabulum upon -which they live or exist, hence the recommendation of this treatment. Supply oatmeal gruel, and, if- the patient will drink it, two or three pints of good sound ale will do good 1 . The substitution of milk in place of water has been recommended, but as milk requires to be coagulated by the gastric juioe and redissolved before it can be assimilated by the system, if it seems not to a,gre.a with the animal, substitute oatmeal gruel.