Synonyms. Definition. Historic notes. Equine influenza of 1872–3; its
indication of infection. Other evidence: through stables, cars,
manure, clothes, coition, inoculation. Bacteriology: streptococci;
diplococci; cocco-bacillus, latter pathogenic to rodents, dog, cat,
sheep, pig, ox, ass, pigeon, chicken. Inoculations on horse. Present
in early stages only. Uncertainty. Accessory causes: chill, electric
tension, high barometer, impure air, overwork, poor feeding, season,
youth, primary susceptibility, acquired immunity. Incubation 1 to 3
days. Symptoms: Forms: sudden attack, anorexia, profound prostration,
weakness, hyperthermia, epiphora, brownish red conjunctiva, pulse,
heart beats, catarrhal symptoms, thoracic, pulmonary, pleuritic,
cardiac, digestive, urinary, diarrhœal, ophthalmic, nervous,
rheumatoid; complications, abortion, laminitis, strangles, contagious
pneumonia, cerebro-spinal meningitis, etc. Lesions: inflammation of
mucosæ of nose and air passages with blood unaffected; in severe
attacks, with heart clots, or later with blood black, diffluent, red
globules crenated or dissolved, without viscidity or rouleaux, reddish
serum, and hæmatoidin in masses, acid reaction, petechiæ; congestion
of mouth, stomach, small intestines or large,—ulcers, tumid follicles,
peritoneal effusion, enlarged congested mesenteric glands; liver as if
parboiled, with petechiæ and necrosis; spleen large and gorged;
kidneys infiltrated, mottled, petechiated, swollen; may be meningeal
or ophthalmic congestion; pulmonary lesions, pleural effusions,
adhesions, infiltrations, consolidations, infarctions, sequestra.
Diagnosis: sudden attack, great numbers attacked, marked prostration,
conjunctivitis, great hyperthermia, digestive disorder, evidence of
infection. Table comparing croupous and contagious pneumonia and
influenza. Prognosis. Mortality low,—high in some epizoötics, in
horses kept at work, under bad hygiene. Treatment: good diet and
hygiene, rest, shelter, stimulating diuretics and diaphoretics,
venesection, antipyretics, alkaline eliminants, inhalants—water
medicated, derivatives, collyria, guarded laxatives, antiseptics,
cardiac stimulants, nerve sedatives, tonics, transfusion of blood,
normal salt solution,—technique. Prevention: quarantine difficult, yet
possible; examples, applicability to countries, to districts, lines of
restriction.
_Synonyms._ Epizoötic Catarrh; Catarrhal Fever; Nervous
Fever; Epizoötic; Rheumatic Catarrh; Cocotte; Gastro-enteric
Epizoötic; Gastro-entero-nephro-hepatitis; Gastro-Conjunctivitis;
Gastro-Hepato-meningitis; Entero-pneumo-carditis; Pink eye; Epizoötic
Cellulitis; Typhose; Typhoid Fever; Blitz Catarrh; LaGrippe; Septicæmia
Hæmorrhagica etc.
_Definition._ An infectious fever of solipeds, of a specially low or
adynamic type, and with a tendency to localization on the respiratory or
gastro-intestinal mucosa, on the eyes, lungs, pleura, heart, liver,
kidneys, subcutaneous connective tissue, joints, fascia, or nervous
system.
This disease was long confounded with the _influenza_ of man and while
compelled for the identification of the affection, to retain this name
in combination with the qualification _equine_, yet we would prefer to
discard it entirely as conveying the idea that the illness is caused by
Pfeiffer’s bacillus, which it is not. The term _typhoid fever_ which is
in common use in France, has been selected to convey the impression of
its two prominent features of _hyperthermia_ and _stupor_. But it is
open to the same objection for it has been long applied to a specific
disease in man having its own bacillus which is not present in the
_equine influenza_. _Septicæmia Hæmorrhagica_ which has been adopted
more lately, however correct it may be as indicating the tendency of the
local lesions has a generic meaning rather than a specific one, and
requires much more qualification to correctly designate the disease. The
term _adynamic catarrhal fever of solipeds_ has this recommendation,
that it expresses the prostration and debility which is such a marked
feature of the disease, its great tendency to become localized on mucous
surfaces, and the genus of animals that prove its victims. A better
designation is still desirable and may perhaps be reached, when the
pathogenic microbe shall be demonstrated beyond question.
_Historic Notes._ Among catarrhal fevers and epizoötics of early times
it is impossible to distinguish this from widespread nasal and bronchial
catarrhs, and from contagious pneumonia (brustseuche), yet when the
epizoötic attained a sudden and wide extension without any direct
climatic cause, the presumption is in favor of the disease now before
us. Hints are obtained from Titus Livius of a Sicilian equine epizoötic
of this kind 412 B. C. This is corroborated by an account by Hippocrates
of a similar outbreak in Greece. Later, Virgil (Georgics), Columella,
Absyrtus and Vegetius give similar hints. In 1299 in Seville horses
suffered with drooping head, watery eyes, beating flanks and anorexia
and 1000 died (Laurentius Rusius). The horses of the French Army in
Germany suffered severely in 1648 (Solleysel), horses in England in 1688
(Short, Rutty), again in 1693 (Webster, Short, Foster) and again in 1699
(Webster). In 1712 horses suffered extensively in Europe (Lancisi,
Kanold) and in 1727–8 in England and Ireland (Rutty), in 1732–3
(Arbuthnot, Gibson) and again in 1736–7 (Short). Other such equine
epizoötics are recorded for Europe in 1729 (Löw), for Ireland in 1746
and 1750–1 (Rutty, Osmer), for Europe and the British Isles in 1760
(Bieset, Rutty, Webster), and again in 1762 (Rutty, Webster) and 1767
(Forster), also in America (Webster), in Europe in 1776 (Fothergill
etc.), in Europe and Asia in 1780–2 (Gluge), in England in 1798
(Wilkinson, White), in Europe and England in 1814–15 (Heusinger,
Wilkinson, Youatt), in England in 1819, 1823 (Field) and 1827 (Brown),
in Europe in 1833 (Prinz, Wilkinson, Hayes, Spooner), 1834 (Hensinger),
1835–6 (Prinz, Friedberger), 1840, 1846, 1851, 1852, 1862, 1870, 1873,
1881, 1883, 1890, 1891, 1892 (Friedberger).
In the United States as in Europe the affection has in the main
smoldered in the large cities in ordinary years, to break out without
obvious cause, in given years into an advancing epizoötic which sweeps
the whole continent. Such were the great outbreaks in Europe in 1881 to
1883, and in America in 1872–3, and 1900 to 1901. The great
recrudescence of the disease in North America in 1872–3 was so
remarkable in its progress and limitations that it seems desirable to
recal its more prominent historic features. The unquestionable
demonstration of the microbe of the affection may make such a record
superfluous, but until then, and so long as books are published which
attribute the disease to the environment, or to the soil, it is not
altogether unnecessary.