Cold, Grippe, Catarrh
The nose and air-passages are lined with a delicate membrane, whose office it is to secrete a thin mucous which lubricates the parts. Under the influence of a chill, suppressed perspiration, etc., this membrane becomes irritated, inflamed, and the discharge arrested, or it is thickened, increased, or variously modified.
The symptoms usually are, the horse is not so lively as usual; he eats little or no food; he coughs and sneezes; a watery discharge flows from one or both nostrils, and also from the eyes, which are red and swelled.
In the more severe form, there is a chill, warm skin, quick pulse, frequent and somewhat difficult breathing, sore throat, pain in the throat when pinched, frequent cough, rough coat, bound bowels, red eyes, and red and I dry nose; tears flow freely, and little or no food is eaten—all symptoms indicating a catarrhal fever. As the animal improves, the discharge from the nose becomes white or yellowish, and more profuse.
Where numerous horses are attacked about the same time, the symptoms assume a more severe form, attended with a greater degree of prostration than in cases of common cold, and it then merits the name of Influenza. The symptoms of one year vary from those of another, and during the same season all animals are not handled alike, though the general outline will be the same. The attending fever is of a low grade, comes on suddenly, and soon reaches its height, and lowness of spirits and weakness are predominant. The symptoms are often as follows:
The horse is dull, low-spirited, and easily tired; he yawns and hangs his head; his coat stares; sweats easily, and breathes quickly, when slightly worked or moved. He eats little or nothing. As the disease advances, the skin is sometimes hot and again cold; the mouth and tongue are dry and hot; the white of the eye and nose are red; the bowels bound; urine scanty; the eyelids swelled, partly closed, tears flow down the face and fret the skin. The sides of the nostrils are also fretted by the acrid discharge from them, which is sometimes very profuse. The throat may be so inflamed that swallowing is attended with pain and difficulty—the animal “quids” his food, and splashes the water with his muzzle, being afraid to swallow either fluid or solid food. The throat is painful, hot, and swelled on the outside; the glands are also swelled, hard and painful, and sometimes come to a head. The cough is frequent, sometimes coming on in fits, and breathing is sometimes quite obstructed and difficult. When the disease has lasted some time, the dung is slimy and mixed with blood, and the discharge from the nose is sometimes bloody.
A common cold may terminate in inflammation of the bronchia or lungs, by extending downward, or it may be cured and expend itself merely in the nose and throat. So an Influenza may extend and involve the pulmonary tissue, and is far more grave than is usually supposed.
Treatment.—When the disease commences with a chill, or any considerable degree of fever is present, give fifteen drops of A.A., and repeat it several times, at intervals of one or two hours. Then alternate the Remedy E.E., with the fever medicine, at intervals of two or three hours, until the disease is broken up and the horse is well. In case of Influenza, even with very threatening symptoms, the E.E., and A.A., should be given alternately, say every two hours, in doses of fifteen drops; keeping the animal well covered and in a warm stable. After all the feverish symptoms have disappeared, only the E.E., will be required, and the intervals between the doses may be prolonged as the animal improves. In case the discharge from the nose is profuse or thick and excoriating, or when the sore throat is present, or predominates, C.C., is better than the E.E., and may be given alone, or better, in alternation with A.A.
When the legs become swelled, with scanty urine, H.H., should be interposed, either alone or in alternation with C.C., at the same intervals and doses, and this may be continued to the conclusion of the case, either alone or in alternation with the E.E.