The Horse Disease

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 5, 1872

The Horse Disease.

IN ROCHESTER.

The Rochester Chronicle, Oct. 21, says:—

The Canadian horse disease first showed itself here to any extent on Friday. It soon attacked nearly every animal in the livery and horse-car stables, and yesterday we were assured that over 500 animals were suffering from it. One veterinary surgeon alone is treating 70 cases.

The disease has prevailed in the Dominion for some time past. According to the Buffalo papers, it was brought across the Niagara River by the horses of a gentleman who drove over to Queenstown to attend a reception given by the Governor General. Soon after his return, one of his horses was attacked by the epidemic, which, in a day or two, affected his whole stud. The disease has spread so generally since that from one-third to one-half of the horses in Buffalo have suffered from it. We see from the Lockport Journal that the disease has, within a day or two, become prevalent there.

IN BUFFALO.

The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, Oct. 21, says:—

The Canada horse epidemic—as it is termed—prevails at present to an alarming extent in Buffalo, and the disease is on the increase. There is no question but that it is an epidemic, and there are grave fears that it will sweep through the country. Probably nine out of every ten horses in town are affected with it, although, in most cases, it is light, and not of a fatal character. The symptoms of the disease, etc., have heretofore been published by us, and by this time are well understood by all horse owners of the city.

To be more specific we would state that nearly all the livery stable keepers in town have closed their barns temporarily, and it is almost a matter of impossibility to obtain a carriage or conveyance of any kind from the livery men. It does not follow that all the livery horses in town are suffering from the disease, but it is a fact that the great majority are, and the owners are acting on the wise principle that “prevention is better than cure,” and are taking extra care of their horses, whether sick or well. It has become a matter of difficulty to obtain horses even for funerals, and those which have turned out have been more or less affected with the disease.

The horses belonging to the Street Railroad Company are almost all affected. The company have taken five cars off the line, and made the time seven-and-a-half minutes, instead of six, as formerly.

The Buffalo Omnibus Company have ceased using their horses altogether for a few days, but intend to resume as soon as fresh horses can be obtained. The animals belonging to the company are either sick in the barns on Green Street, or at the farm of Mr. Tyler.

The disease appears to be particularly prevalent among the horses of public hackmen. There are something like 90 licensed hackmen in the city, and we were told on Saturday evening that out of this large number there were but three hacks running. The stands are deserted, and passengers are mostly obliged to walk to and from the depots.

The horses belonging to the different express companies have caught the epidemic, and many are incapacitated.

The cartmen in town are not exempt from the prevailing trouble, and many of their horses are down with the disease. On Saturday last, but one solitary truck stood on the Terrace, and the proprietor rejoiced that he was doing all the business, the horses belonging to his competitors being sick and unable to work.

The disease prevails in several private stables, and in fact is general throughout the city. We hear of cases in the country towns, and the farmers are not at all pleased at the prospect. It will thus be seen that the epidemic is on the increase, and prevails to an alarming extent.

The epidemic seriously interferes with all branches of business in the city, and if it continues to increase in the same ratio as it has during the past week, the result will be very disastrous.

THE DISEASE AT ROCHESTER.

Rochester, N. Y., October 23.—The horse disease continues its ravages, and there are not a score of horses in this city and neighborhood unaffected, although very few fatal cases have been reported. All branches of business are more or less affected by the scarcity of horses. Merchants are hiring men and boys to transport goods. The street cars are not running, and livery stables are closed. The disease prevails in the surrounding country as extensively as in the city. It is stated that only in cases where bleeding has been resorted to have the horses died.

THE HORSE DISEASE IN SPRINGFIELD, MASS., AND SYRACUSE, N. Y.

Springfield, Mass., Oct. 23.—Seventy cases of horse disease broke out in this city to-day. No fatal cases reported thus far.

Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 23.—The horse epidemic has broken out in this city and is spreading rapidly. Fully 400 horses are affected, including the horses of the fire department and street railways. The horses of the milk company are affected, also 100 private horses, and a number have already died.

Chicago, Oct. 25.—The report that the horse epidemic had broken out in the stables of the West Side Omnibus Company is pronounced to be without foundation.

Indianapolis, Oct. 25.—It is reported that the Canadian horse disease has made its appearance here, and that a number of horses are already suffering from it.

Augusta, Me., Oct. 25.—A large number of cases of horse disease have appeared, in this city. Only one fatal case reported.

Hudson, N. Y., Oct. 25.—The equine catarrh appeared Thursday in this and adjacent towns.

Philadelphia, Oct. 25.—No symptoms of the horse disease have as yet made an appearance. Prompt precaution has been adopted to prevent its spread if it should show itself.

Lewiston, Me., Oct. 25.—Several hundred horses in this city are sick with the prevalent catarrhal affection, but few fatal cases are reported.

St. Louis, Oct. 25.—It is stated on the authority of a veterinary surgeon, that the horse disease has appeared here, but only a very few cases have yet occurred. Vigorous precautions are being taken to prevent its spread if possible. The St. Louis Transfer Company's stables, in which there are some 700 horses, have been thoroughly fumigated and sprinkled with carbolic lime, and other stables will undergo a similar process.

Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 25.—The horse disease is unabated, and the weather is rainy. Various stables report the horses much worse than yesterday, the loss to business is very great. Canal horses seem to have the disease in a milder form than the other classes.

Corry, Pa., Oct. 25.—The horse disease has reached here in full force, 11 horses being taken in one day. The express companies’ horses are all laid up.

Post-mortem examinations were held to-day upon five dead horses of the Avenue C line. If the distemper continues unabated it is probable the demands of business will require the running of dummy engines in the streets and a repeal of the law respecting carriage on the sidewalks.

New York, Oct. 25.—The weather this morning is very damp and foggy. The horse disease has now spread to every stable in the city. The symptoms of the contagion are visible on almost every horse on the streets. Stage and street car lines are continuing to lessen their trips. At about 8 o’clock last evening there was not a Broadway stage between the Battery and City Hotel. This morning this thoroughfare seems to be almost without vehicles. It is altogether calculated that about 18,000 horses are now affected. Animals attacked before yesterday generally exhibited worse features, and it becomes evident that, dating cases from Monday or Tuesday, the crisis can yet hardly be said to have arrived. The continued working of affected horses is beginning to tell in a rapid increase of the dangerous cases. Not many deaths have been reported as yet, but it is known that deaths are occurring. Three horses of the Dry Dock Line of cars died last night. Some 300 cars have ceased running, and some additional stage lines will probably have to give out to-day. It is the opinion of veterinary surgeons that the distemper may not prove fatal, but that horses will suffer some time from weakness. The Sanitary Committee reported to the Board of Health yesterday that the disease, though general, is not fatal or contagious. The course of it seems to be, say Friday the animal seems to be sick, Saturday worse, Sunday the malady has attained its climax, Monday the horse improves, and Tuesday is almost fit for work. The effects on business have not yet been severely felt, but already the cost of draying and cartage in some instances has risen to war prices. The epidemic has spread to Westchester and Staten Island, as well as to New Jersey. Another estimate gives the following as the number of cases in this city. Six thousand dray horses, 12,000 belonging to car and stage lines, 500 to express companies, and 2,000 to livery and sale stables, 6,000 sick in Brooklyn, 600 in Jersey City, and 600 elsewhere, making a total of 28,000. The valuable trotting stock in this city also received their share of disease. Dan Mace’s horses are nearly all affected, the celebrated double team, Darkness and Plympton, that trotted at Prospect Park the other day with Ethan Allen and George Wilkes, are being treated. A valuable Ethan Allen colt, worth $12,000 is also in a doctor’s hands. A number of other well-known trotters, such as Stonewall Jackson, Kirkwood, ‘Lady Wheeler, Jules Jurgensen and Capt. Jinks are also afflicted in a mild form.

The Detroit Post of Nov. 2, reports the disease as still spreading in many places. Between 5,000 and 10,000 horses in Philadelphia, and 1,200 in Chicago are down with the disease; while in Boston Mass., it is said that children would make mud pies in the streets without danger of disturbance from passing teams.