In the early stages especially medicinal antithermic agents may be called for: acetanilid (2–3 drs.), phenacetin (2–4 drs.), sulphate of thallin (2–3 drs.), sodium salicylate (½ oz.) or in the weaker cases, caffein—natrium salicylate (1 dr.) or quinine sulphate (2–3 drs.) Acetanilid will sometimes relieve dullness, and materially improve the general condition.
In weak conditions of the heart we may resort to digitalis (10–15 grs.), strychnia sulphate (2 grs.), strophanthus tincture (3 to 4 drs.), caffein, or alcohol. Care must be taken not to overstimulate and exhaust a weak and intermittent heart.
Derivatives are often of material value from the first, in mild cases or to succeed damp compresses in the more violent ones. One of the best and most convenient is essential oil of mustard and alcohol (1:12 or 20). This may be rubbed on the surface and like mustard itself, covered with stout paper to prevent evaporation. In the absence of this, soap liniment, or even tincture of cantharides may be used.
The use of antiseptics has been tried with variable results. While it is impracticable to saturate the system, safely, with sufficient antiseptic to destroy the microbes in the blood and tissues, yet when the balance of force between the microbian attack and systemic defence shows little variation either way a slight increase on the side of the patient may serve to give it the preponderance, and to restrict the increase of the microbes and their products. Above all when the center of morbid activity is largely on and near the bronchial mucosa, antiseptic inhalations serve to hold them somewhat in check and to moderate the amount of both microbes and toxins that enter the system at this point. For this purpose camphor, oil of turpentine, or oil of tar volatilized from hot water may be inhaled in a close room. Or we may use carbolic acid, terpene, terpinol, creolin lysol, thymol, eucalyptol, or oil of cinnamon. The fumes of burning sulphur diffused in the air of the room and just short of that concentration that will cause cough, suffering and headache, is an excellent resort. The sulphites, bisulphites or hyposulphites may be given by the mouth.
When there are indications of encephalitis cold to the head and the internal exhibition of bromides, iodides, and acetanilid may be resorted to.
During convalescence nourishing and easily digestible food may be given, and iron, strychnia, quinia and common salt may be employed. In protracted or chronic cases with fœtid breath and indications of sequestra or opened vomica in the lungs these may be continued along with one or more of the disinfectants referred to above.
Prevention. This is much more promising than in equine influenza. The extension of incubation to three days and the indisposition of the infection to spread beyond the stable into which it has been brought, or the near vicinity of the diseased animal, gives us a great relative advantage. The early, extreme rise of temperature of the infected horses gives the opportunity of removing these horses to a special stable or shed, where they can have special attendants, and the stable drainage and manure can be kept apart, and disinfected, or spread and plowed under by oxen. The infected stable should be emptied, the soiled hay, litter and manure burned, and the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, and above all the mangers and racks must be thoroughly disinfected. Lime wash with chloride of lime or mercuric chloride will suffice. The gutters should be cleaned, washed and drenched with mercuric chloride, followed by the whitewash. If there is rotten wood work or filth-saturated soil these must be effectually treated. In many stables it will be impossible to do all this thoroughly, yet closing the empty building tightly, and filling it with chlorine gas, or even sulphur fumes, concentrated until they extinguish the burning sulphur, and keeping shut up for twenty-four hours will usually suffice. Washing with a solution of formalin (1:40 or 1 per cent of formaldehyde), or even the evaporation of this agent by heat in the closed building is very effective, with the serious drawback that it is very irritating to the lungs. It can however be conveniently used for the sterilization of harness, stable implements, halters, and all movable objects in the building.
Strange horses, such as new purchases, should be placed in quarantine for one week in a separate stable, and not hitched up with sound horses. If they show evidence of recent illness this may be extended to six weeks.
For horses that have been shipped long distances, and stopped for rest or feeding in public stables or yards, a similar quarantine is essential. This might be obviated if a system of thorough disinfection of such stables, yards and cars, could be enforced, between any two successive lots of horses, and if the latter were accompanied by certificates of the absence of contagious pneumonia and all other infectious diseases from the localities from which they were shipped and through which they had come. Such certificates should be made by veterinary officials in the employ of the government, which would thus become responsible for their genuineness.
In view of the frequent persistence of this malady in a given stable for a great length of time, successive animals being attacked at long intervals, and where isolation was impracticable, Beckmann rubbed the nasal discharges of the sick on the nasal mucosa of the unaffected, producing the disease almost invariably in a mild form. The infected animals were placed in the best hygienic conditions, the duration of the infection was shortened, and the horses being rendered immune, the stable was then disinfected with a satisfactory result.