The New York Herald Newspaper, October 26, 1872, Page 3

SEE amma Thirty Thousand Horses in Bad Health. THE JOCKEYS AND THE JEHUS. Scenes in the Sales, Livery, Stage, Express, Street-Railroad and Private Stables. THE EPIZOOTY EXTENDING. A Theusand Horses Drawing Near the Door of Death, A FATAL CASE. The Awful Future--A City With- out a Horse. A New and Mortal Phase of the Malady. SHE HACKMEN EXTORTIONATE. Almost every horse in the city is to-day suffering from the epihippic disease which, on its very @rst appearance, spread so widely and rapidly. - Zhe number of those that show the known symp- Gems is legion, and from observation it is safe to famsert that those which are not yet put upon the mick list have now somewhere in their systems the germs of the disorder. It seems thus far to have een very slow in its development, and no one can be sure that all of its stages have yet been seen. Yesterday every poor steed that was in the street hhad lost the air of pride and strength which was his 4m the careless season of health and seemed drooping gnd weighed down under some invisible oppres- sion—a malarial incubus—something which per- wades the air, and entering at the nostrils permeates the blood and tissues, and having the properties of ® poison creates catarrhal fever, diphtherial in- @ammation and a nervous lassitude. its newest and most alarming phase was ‘widely spread, and to-day the death of a large mumber of the helpless dumb victims may be ex- The inflammation of the throat extends to and rapidly grows more alarming, and when cougni®g occurs it is fearfully convilsive. The animal sta in the stall as if] bDenumbed or paralyzed? his head hangs low, to the foor, and his breath domes and goes with a quick and sharp movement. His body is qu ‘warm, but his extremities grow almost icy sok. This seems to be the warning of the fatal ending of he malady, and ag widely Prévalent ‘as it now is for . Syn there can be little doubt that hundreds of the horses that are affected will droop nd die. The disease will have reached its climax amd the relapse after an apparent improvement, @@ in the case of a humén being, in a fever, will then begin suddenly but fatally. Soon New Yorkers, it is to be feared, will fave to cry, w! om it. uch earnestness as Richara. if,; « tata a 1? and will be gladdened by no response ; Bor irvoad ‘Them there ‘rolled not the breath of thelr It ig too grave a subject for jest, and yet the Bommunism of misfortune is the best inspiration for “making the best of it.” This morning finds iu Sew York, Brooklyn and Jersey City about thirty thousand horses suffering from the typhoide jaryngite, that are only at ths inception of the malady, and by the middie of next week it may be sadly true that ‘footing it” wil be @ much more common byword among the ‘loud swells” than ‘four-in-hand” is at present. What will be the fate of the world with- out a horse? That ever-faithful servitor, whose intelligence has been the theme of every senti- mentally disposed naturalist down to Cuvier and Buffon, and whose usefulness the history of our race attests, will be lamented when extinct, and when his bones will be explored only by ‘ater Darwins, who are seeking for ani- mals superior to man. Now while selfish in- terest is still ascendant in the treatment which we give our dumb chattels, it is @carcely perhaps to be expected that he is to be esteemed according to his worth. The lack of proper care alone, as is shown by the condition of the horses in this city to-day, is the only cause of @anger to their lives, and rest and intelligent Medical treatment will successfully battle with it. ‘The street car companies, some of the livery stable proprietors and many of the downtown mer; chants are still working their diseased and tottering horses, and in all these cases the signs of fatality become more and more alarming, and it is even probable that the danger of con- tagious transmission of the new phase of the dis- ease is even increased by this mistaken policy. In the stables where all business is suspended until the disease is mastered very favorable re- ports are made. fm some instances the convales- cence of the horses is very rapid. The weather of yesterday prevented the use of many ani- mals that otherwise would have been enough improved in condition to warrant their ex- ercise, and in consequence the streets of the city never looked so strangely deserted ‘and desolate. Mercantile houses are much em- Darrassed by their inability to ship the goods which ‘they have already sold, and the storehouses at the Atlantic Docks and elsewhere are crowded to excess with the cargoes of vessels which cannot be dis- posed of as rapidly as they arrive. Never before, perhaps, was it so well shown how greata part the patient beast of burden plays in the drama of Givilization. ‘The trotters and racers that are stabled in the City seem to have nearly escaped the disease, @oubtiess through the better and more experienced care with which they are treated. Mr. Bonner’s Stables, according to the statement of his veter- (mary physician, have not been touched at all by the dread visitant, and ‘American Gir)” is already almost recovered from her slight attack. ‘The street car companies, rather reluctantly, are still compelled to lessen the number of trips, where ‘they shoald be stopped entirely on their lines, but people now have to wait on street corners twice as long as formerly. No leveller or communist could ‘wish for a better means of balancing the privileges @f the rich and poor, and the old couplet in that re- gard no longer is appropriate :— ‘Them that is rich may ride in sha; But them Wiad is poor must walk-vo blazes! ‘The hackmen, with characteristic rapacity, have gimost tripled the fares which they demand of pas- sengers, in utter violation of the law and of their teenses, They refuse to carry those persons who @ecline to be charged an illegal rate. Travel on the West Side. As it was prophesied by the HERALD some @ays since, the horse fever is becoming worse, and ow the crisis of the disease is fast approaching, when the anxiety of the last five days will be volieved in either a hopeful or fatal manner, by the recovery or the death of F : MANY THOUSANDS OF HORSES. ‘Trade and travel are even now half paralyzed, and there seems to be a belief in existence among the managers of the railroad companies that their stock cannot hold out longer than Sun- day night, and that then all the cars and stages in the city will have ceased running, and that people will be compelled to oot it from Spuyten Duyvil to properly attended to. THR PROPERTY IN HORSES is something like the property in slaves previous te the war. They cannot be insnred against lung fever, and, consequently, every horse that dies is to the owner a dead lose, ‘The Sixth avenue line is now partially disabled from the sickness of their stock. Thirty-two cara were taken off; and tt 18 probable that on the branch of this road which rans up to Canal street and Broadway all the cars will have.to stop carry- ing passengers this morning. On this line there Seay Beat to wert ammseenan’ ooo orl and aconite are used heely, ‘but the result character. The property in 13 VALUED AT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. hteen cara were taken off the Seventh avenue roi yesterday afternoon and evening and the horses in the ere ine way. Two hun- dred and fifty are undergoing hospital treatment, Fog oe Rn se of horse property belonging to AMOUNTS TO ABOUT EIGHTY-PIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. The Broome street. railroad has taken off eight cars, but the officials are hopeful that a cl in the wind and atin will cause a favorable change in their stock. Property in horses valued at $60,000, Broadway and Barclay street line has three hunared horses in the hospital, and they are bei; dosed with mustard in at plenty, but as fasi as they come in from trips THEY TAKE COLD again and become chilled, Lung fever has set in among many of the horses of this line and there are a Bae of hopeless cases, Value of horses, 100, On the Eighth avenue line there is great conster- nation, principally among the drivers and conduc- tors, who fear that the of running the horses until they drop down will cause @ genera! dismissal of the employés from want of work. About ten cars have been taken off; but as @ whole the line is in working order, although there are some thirty desperate cases, from which nothing hopeful can be expected. The horses of this company ARE VALUED AT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. The Canal street branch of this line will be com- pelled to cease work soon, as it does not pay the company for the service of men and beasts who are employed to work the road, and it ia only kept going as an accommodation. It was reported that theré were several horses who had died at the depot of the Belt Railroad yes- terday, but not! could be ascertained of the truth’ or falsity of the statement. The number of horses belonging to this road which are unfit for work is very large; but it is believed that not more than fifteen cars have been taken off their trips on the road, though the hospital is full of decaying and suffering animals. There are 1,100 horses at- tached to this road, which are valued at about one hundred and sixty thousand dollars in the aggre- gate. Tne Ninth avenue horses are doing pretty well ues the management of the boss, Mr. Wallace, Wi HAS ONLY TAKEN FIVE CARS OFF and about sixty horses, Homeopathy seems to be SEAS E here, and the feed is easing the horses and allowing them some slight rest. e property in horses of this company is said to be estimated at $90,000. There are 300 horses coughing badly. The Bleecker street line . ae 18 IN A BAD STATE, This line is running the horses as long as they will up, and the result promises to be fearful in 1c, many of them have dropped down im the strees -#auj Over work. Out of 400 horses on this road there are 20f at present 1aore than 100 in fair working order. 8 of the Bleecker a afte} ptreet line are valued at $65,v09. "NQ insurance. Travel on the East Side. = ~- The heavy rain which continued to fall all day” yesterday tested to the utmost the endurance of the poor sick brutes that were attached to stages and railroad cars, Whatever may be the opinion of veterinary surgeons as to the effect such weather may have upon the epidemic, the rain-had the effect of drawing more attention to the suffering brutes cheaiealrets 6nd HY tiie General interest in the extragrdivary diséase was heightened. On the east side of town it was pitiable to see THB WEARY HORSES STRUGGLING to do their accustomed work and reach the jour- ney’s end., That the horses of the railroad compa- nies showed evident signs of sickness was & matter of general comment, the coughing and straining being most painful to look at, and in many instances people had an opportunity of seeing the disease in its worst stage, hem complete exhaustion sets in, and the horse pants as if for life. Om the cars, whenever there was conversation at all, people talked “horse” all the time. Some most ex- traordinary opinions were ventured in these conversations, and speculation was indulged in as to the probability of the disease extending to the human family. No doubt all these . conjectures were perfectly valneless, but perhaps they had as much reliability in them as is to be found in the theories of the superintendents and surgeons of the stables. A HERALD reporter pesterday went the roupds of all the stage and railroad stables on the east side of the city, and failed to see that any uni- form method of treatment had been determined In one stable external application is used; in another it is condemned. In one there is no change of diet; in anothera total change. But from yesterday’s visits it was clear that all the horsesin the stables alluded to are SICK AND GETTING WORSE, if anything. ‘The drivers of cars and stages know well and assert that every horse at work is sick. Any one taking the trouble to watch the horses on any of the east side lines yesterday must assuredly not have waited long near any team until the pe: culiar cough of the epizootic would be heara. ‘The most candid of the superintendents of stables ad- mit that there is not any chance ofa single horse escaping.’ The most that can be done, they say, 18 to give the sick animals rest, as this is found to give great relief and to restore the ap- poe reporter's visit to the sta- les did not elicit much more informa- tion than was given in yesterday’s HERALD. On the Dry Dock line, which in the beginning escaped well, every animal in the stable is sick, and only ten cars out of thirty are running on the avenue B route, while only eight out of twenty-two are running on the East Broadway ronte. ‘s'wenty of the horses are very bad; many of the others have been taken off, as there was no doubt about the injurious effects of the work. It was rumored yes- terday morning that FIVE HORSES OF THIS STABLE HAD DIED, but the superintendent stated yesterday that this was untrue. On the avenue © line there has been no change since yesterday. The Fourteenth street and Broadway line of stages is still the All the horses are sick and nearly all the Yesterday the Third avenue line made sixteen less trips than on the previous day—nine cars being now off in all. The horses in tis stable are about the same as they were on Thursday. The disease in its lightest form has had the effect of weakening the horses that are put to work, and the result is that every hour brings to the stable some horse that has BROKEN DOWN ON THE TRIP. The veterinary surgeon is giving the same treat- ment as that heretofore reported. The Fourth avenue stable has nothing new. The horses are growing weaker, needing more rest than they get. On the Second avenue line the Superintendent re- ports the stable as about the same as it was on Thursday. He says the horses are improving in their feeding, and he expects, though he has only about ten or twelve very bad cases, the disease will eventually fasten on every animal in the stable. ‘The Madison avenue line of stages still keeps on the road, though the horses are in very bad con- dition. It was thought yesterda: , though there was no decrease in the disease, that the feeding was something better than on any day during the week. Taken altogether, the stables on the east side of town exhibit no improvement whatever in grappling with the epizootic. In answer to the question, whether or not there has been as yet any horse perfectly cured, the answer in every stable was in the negative. upon. same. i stages are running. age! Fo Sales, Livery @ Private Stables. In the livery stables the epihippic seems only to have begun, and not to have reached the advanced stage of disease which afflicts the horses of the public lines of travel. A reporter visited most of them yesterday aud found hardly a horse that was not sick. At Pepard’s stables all of the stock, consisting of thirty-five horses, was afflicted, and only one or two of them were allowed to be driven, ‘The horses of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing machine company are in about the same condition as they were on Thursday. The Hambietonian colt men- tioned yesterday is still dangerously ill, but hopes of her recovery are entertained. The stables of A. T. STEWART & CO., corner of Amity and Wooster streets, are models of good arrangement and proper ventilation, Three horses of the seventy-three used by them are worse off than they were on Thursday, and the death of two of them may be expected. The symptoms which they present are new and startling. Their limbs at the extremities become singularly cold, and their breath comes short and pantingly. Their limbs are bound in flannels to keep them warm, and they are fed on bran gruel and treated with laxative and pectoral remedies, . o1 Amour’s horses, at the lower end Bue, are, all more or less aftticted, but not dan- gerously, THE UPTOWN LIVERY STAB! where are kept the blood nags and roadsters of wealthy gentlemen, are very interesting to a visitor who is curious in regard to horsefesh. Next door to the Gilsey House, on Broadway, is the Excelsior Stable, kept by Mr. D. W. Snow. There are ag ee horses here, all of zymosis, but none are of then are impro' The tro mare of Mr. Hanner, Maggy, an ters, are Kept here, and are all recovering from slight attacks, The treatment used here is the administration of lini- ment to the throat of the beast and ACONITE, BRLLADONNA AND DIGITALIS internally. The food which is given is softand wet. They are not disturbed in the least, but are lett in the stalis all the time. Lime is used asa fumigator. Around the corner, in Twenty-ninth street, is the Merchants’ Stable, of Tilden & Jenni- gon, Where many of the horses are 80 sick as to lic down. There are sixty of them, all of which are affected. Frier’s stables, from which the Gilsey House is regen contains about seventy horses, one of which was driven yesterday. The rest are completely disabled. At Ces aati Thirty-first street, all of the horses are sick, although out o! ten double teams two were working. ler’s Na- tional Stables, at the corner of ‘roadway and Thirty-fiith street, contain about fifty horses, nearly all of which, although they have been affected, are almost entirely well. In Bren- nan’s stables, Thirty-sixth street, twenty-six horses are sick, two of them are expected to dic, The inflammation of the throat has extended to the lungs, when it becomes very langerous. Mr. P. De Socarraz, who keeps a large Urergaeane atthe corner of Thirty-ninth street and Broadway, has _ horses and they all are sick. He does not permit any of them to be worked, Many of them were much worse yesterday and TWO WERE EXPECTED TO DIE before morning. Harry Elder’s stables, corner of Forty-fifth street and Fifth ‘venue, pre- sent sad spectacle of 120 horses ‘“un- der the weather.’ Slater & Seymour, in Fortieth street, have sixty sick horses whose condition is growing worse rather better. In Briggs’ Mansion Stables seventy-five horses are sick. Seventy horses at Belumger's, liana street and Seventh avenue, are very IN GARRISON’S STABLES, at the corner of Broadway and Forty-seventh street, there are sixty-three horses, and they are all sick. The disease here made its appearance on Monday night, but was attended to immediately, the proprietor being up night and day nursing his servitors, and they are now ‘doing very well.” Six pair were working yesterday. Imme- diately on the appearance of the disease all the windows of the stables were opened ‘and the air was puoronghly disinfected with chloride of lime. Dr. John Cole haa charge of the horses, and said yesterday that they were all convalescent. In this stable are boarded a good many utlemen’s roadsters, among which are Jersey Maid, General McClellan, Lady Anna, Bride of the Wind, Taylor's fast Hambletonian colt and a promising stallion descended from Ethan Allen, in Forty-eighth street, contain sete Iuabl rty-e street, contain some very valuable stock, of w. Plimpton and Darkness continue to improve rapidly. American Girl and several other rate trotters who are kept at this stable, and iow at the Fleetwood Course, have n slightly affected by coe anoparing malady, but have; under ft it care, jained their health. "aie ies A Charics Carman’s stablés, where are twelve “ : blooded nags, among which are India Rubber Ben, Kirkwood and Gray Mack, are visited, of course, by the epihippic, and all of them were more or iess8 malignantly attucked, but areina fair way to recover soon. Pfife’s stable contains eight horses which are sick, but not dangerously; one of them is a'Hambietonian colt, five years‘ld, who has a record of half mile in 1:13. In Bailey’s stables eighteen steeds are sick. In Anderson's stables, ftieth street, the fifty private road- sters boarding there are suffering. Mr. Shotwell’s stable in Fortieth street, which used to belong to the Boss of the Tammany Ring, contains six trotting horses of good biood, all of which are sick. In Green’s private stable, corner of Forty-second street and Madison avenue, the celebrated team, De 7 AND NABOCELIS#, have’ the epizootic, but not badly. ‘there are fort; sick horses in Leadbetter’s livery stable, on Sevent avenue, near Forty-fifth street, and it ts closed, Harry Elder’s stables in Forty-fifth street, near Fifth avenue, where there are seventy sick horses, are also closed. In Cluson’s stables sixty horses are bat slightly affected, and are doing well. At Anderson’s stable Mr. "8 trotting mare, The Belle of Paterson, is also under Dr. Cole’s treat- ment and is getting well of an attack of the uni- versal disorder. The other and minor livery stables were found in nearly the same condition 8s was reported in the HERALD yesterday, only that the disease was much more Senerel, and, in some cases, more dangerous, while there was said to be a palpable improvement of health wherever the treatment was carcful and assiduous. Some cases of probable death were found where the horses had been previously affected by lung fever or inflammation. The Express Companies. The transportation demands upon many of the express companies have become so great owing to the interruption to the regular routine of business that they were yesterday forced to put their sick animals in harness, ADAMS EXPRESS. ‘The disorder has developed no new features since the last report. The animals which were very ill early in the week have recuperated somewhat, and yesterday the others were about in the same condi- tion as on Thursday. So great is the tax upon the company by their business that yesterday they were compelled to impress into service their entire stock, and it is feared that the result will be a re- lapse and possibly a fatal termination in some cases, THE NATIONAL EXPRESS. The animals of this company were no better yes- terday than on the tase day. Slight improve- ment was observed in the condition of a few cases, but they are the exception. The company, how- ever, did not put them to work yesterday, as was contemplated, owi to the inclemency of the weather. They continue to employ drays in the transaction of their business. THE BUROPEAN EXPRESS. The horses of this company are convalescent and were allat work yesterday. THE AMERICAN-RUROPEAN EXPRESS. No improvement is reported in the condition of the fifteen animals empioyed by this company, and an outside force of animals have been secured. Had the weather justified it, however, they would have been put in harness yesterday, as the disease is believed to have spent its fury. THE UNITED STATES EXPRESS. Slight improvement manifested itself on Thurs- day evening and the company resolved to turn their animals out of hospital yesterday morning. The, heavy rain, however, caused them to recon- sidér their determination, and they continued to hire mules and horses from those who have them for hire. Mr. Thayer reports that he thinks the critical period has passed, and with fine weather and careful attendance they will lose no animals. WELLS, FARGO & CO.'S EXPRESS. The quadrupeds of this company promise an early convalescence. They are very valuable animals and the company declines tu use them until they are entirely recovered. THE MERCHANTS’ UNION EXPRESS, Great attention is given to the stock of this com- pany by the stable superintendent, Mr. Hewitt, who gives them the homeopathic remedies only. Still no improvement has been shown since previ- ous reports. The company has been forced to turn @ number into harness, and fears are entertained that many may have @ relapse in consequence. One of their old drivers, Thomas Martin, yesterday felt such commiseration for his horse that, having to wait at the company’s office half an hour for his load, he deliberately unhitched the animal and led him into the office Out of the rain. The horse, no doubt, felt grateful for his driver's ed 80 singularly mantfested. The stock of this company are kept cererully blanketed—a precaution that they report is Pr uctive of very beneficial results, So tar but one fatal case among the express stock has been reported, ‘The Fire Department. The Fire Department seem, up to the present time, rather fortunate with their horses. Out of 160 only fifteen have been stricken with the disease, and none are considered dangerously ill, The horses in the department first began to show symp- toms of illness two days ago, but the men who have charge of them had no ide that —anythii serious was the matter, and. paid little. heed to the coughing ‘of tré animals. However, when the choking in the throat and the general Bp ihre set in the men be- came ed and the veterinary surgeon was at once called in. The latter became satisfied that the horses had caught the prevalent disease, and at once had the stables cleansed and disinfected. The horses were then taken care of properly, dnd, besides. them the mash hot, they were made to 4 freely. This treatment. it is believed, for the want of a number to business,” and General Sales sane See Se comesienensre have a reserve on hand in ease of emergency. P ‘The Working Horses. Ta the lower portion of the city, particularly or ee dovfar, te department terly lamented. At least one-third of the cart amd truck horses usually employed were unable to work, and the cartmen whose horses had not yet become afilicted had everything their own Way as far as charges were concerned— that is, such was the case amo. who do a ‘‘tloating” business an re not bound 10 are not boun any particular firm. It was said by some persons that not less than twerfty-five hundred working horses are down with the age, but the number is undoubtedly really much greater. No deaths among them, however, have as yet been reported. Whe Horse Marts. Of all places to get reliable information about horses, sick or well, the “sales stables” in Twenty- fourth street are the worst, at all times and under all circumstances, disease or no disease. It is not surprising, therefore, that the “sellers” should at the present time affect to believe that the horse disease is @ mnyth—in fact, a something that the newspapers have gotten up a sensation about, simply to “spoil the business.” Yet yesterday they had to admit, despite themselves, that the myth Was a rather troublesome one, The reporter quietly gave a hasty glance about one of the stables, where several “sellers” Were lounging, when one of them, in reply to a question, remarked :— “It ’taint nothin’ this disease what they're talkin’ of in the papers. There’s those stables ‘cross the way. They’ve got five sick uns out ov forty-two. We've only got three out ov about the same number, and there’s those felks over yonder (pointing to one of the stables); they’ve got six @ coughin’, and they’ve got pretty near on to fifty altogether. But you see tain’t nothin’ at all, nothin’ unusual. The hosses hes caught cold, that’s all, DPve seen ’em ofen ‘afore that way when they’re sheddin’ ov their coats.” Not exactly satisfied with this explanation of the condition oi the market the reporter made the round of all the stables, but, of course, had to de- pend upon the owners of the establishments for “reltable” information, ‘They all had the same story to tell, Onlya few horses were sick, they sald, and the sickness was “nothing out of the Way.” However, it is reasonable to suppose that when the men in the market who want to sell their horses—good, bad and indifferent—at all hazards, conclude that one in every ten is sick with the disease, that they do not overrate the number. The Way to Treat the Horses. The reporter, in his rambles about town to find some horse authority as to the best treatment of the disease, as well as to the best means to pre- vent its spread, came across Dr. Gilbert, of ele- vated railroad fame. The Doctor, of course, is not & veterinary surgeon, but is considerable of an authority in horse matters, and was in the army when the horses in his corps were afMlicted with a disease somewhat like the one the horses in the city are now suffering from. He gave. it as his opinion that the disease is a malarialone. In other words, itis of a zymodic character, and its germs are in the atmosphere. He scouted the idea that it was imported from Canada. The best way to prevent the disease, he belteved, was to thor- oughly fumigate the stables with burnt sulphur or something equally as good, the horses mean- while to be taken out and properly covered. The coughing and sneezing of the horses in the first stages of the disease showed clearly that the disease was a malarial one, and, in proportion as the disease increased, the germs from the horse’s throat were spread about, tainting the atmosphere, so that other horses were sure to catch the discase. Judging from what he had learned about the disease abroad, he believed that the treatment of the horse should be of a tonic gharacter, i se Who claimed that the system of the animal oaiynt tg DRzeduce, he contended, were on the wrong track. The past Summer had beéh @ e trying one for horses, a eir systems had Beek considerably reduced, ieavitg them a ‘e than usually open to the reception of all kinds of dis- eases, The treatment, he said, should consist of external and internal remedies. One of the. best, embrocations—and one within the reach of all—was ordinary kerosene oil, rubbed freel, about the throat and neck. As the disease, he says, depends upon malaria! causes, one of the most efiicacious remedies was Fowler’s solution of arsenic, administered in doses of ten drops every three orfour hours. Small doses of quinine and sulphate of iron should be given as @ tonio, ere also should be a change of diet, se- lectIng that which is most nourishing. Nothing is Detter than carrots, or potatoes if carrots cannot be had. The Doctor also stated that if the mana- gers of the large stables of the car and stage com- Panies should scatter several barrels of peras over the floors the disease could be headed of The Hack Drivers’ Exorbitant Charges. While the rain yesterday fell with tropical vio- lence, soaking to the skin any luckless pedestrian who happened to be unprovided with an umbrella, the drivers of hackney carriages made a brilliant harvest. Inspite of the horse plague and its fear- ful ravages, a small band of this enterprising class found their way into the streets, in many cases with horses suffering more or less with the all- prevailing disease. Wall street bankers and brokers in several cases patd TEN DOLLARS TO THEIR JEHUS to be taken ag far as Twentieth street, while shorter distances had to be paid for at propor- tionately high rates. Several funerals which were to have taken place were delayed, and in several cases carriages which were hired to go to the cemeteries on Long Island had to be paid for at the rate of $25. Another case of high fare which came to the writer’s notice was that of a lady who had to disburse $15 from Eighty-sixth street and Thira avenue to the neighborhood of Mr. Beecher’s church in Brooklyn. Opposite the Astor House carriages were trequently hired out to the highest bidder, aring of ten or twelve people being visible around the coveted conveyance. Many of the horses used were in a terribly exhausted con- dition and plunged along in a painful fashion. HACKNEY COACH ORDINANCES IGNORED. In the present state of panic the city ordinances Tegulating rates of fare, stands, driving, &c., are perforce disregarded. Recently the principal hack owners agreed upon the sum of $3 50 as the regular fare from Eighty-sixth street to the Battery; but yesterday hackdrivers whistled contemptuously and would not condescena to make a reply to any would-be hirer who offered less than $5, and that for the shortest possible distances, In conversation with the driver of a hack he said, “It’s ashame to work diseased horses on a day like this. The masters want to make every cent they can, and don’t think that they may lose their horses by having them out in such weather; but that’s not our business. All we get is $l14a week and what we can pick up. (This accompanied by asly wink.) Some of our men have made forty to ee Maa to-day, and will perhaps turn in half. ere’s a good deal of ‘knocking down’ done in our business; it’s about the same thing as on the cars. Al) the stands for ort carriages are deserted, and, mark my words, i! the disease spreads as it’s doing now, in three or four days there will hardly be a horse to be had FOR LOVE OR MONEY.” The total number of hackney carriages in this city is about two thousand, while of transfer and other cabs there are about five hundred, and it is computed on good authority that not more than a fourth of that number were available yesterday, The Board of Health and the Fever. The following report of the Veterinary Surgeon to the Board of Health was recetved yesterday, and will, no donbt, be read by every cwner of horses in the city, as it is easily understood, and will be of service in the present panic, which threatens the trade and passenger traffic of the city. Dr. Lian- tard advocates rest and warmth for the horses in the first stages of the disease :— Horse from Dr. Stephen Smith were duly received, but e from answi ‘ou You will, there- my answer. hester or new horse disease, as it is Not a new disease ; it is not nee calle thing else but intinenza, catarrhal fever, epidemique laryngile, typhoid laryngile of the French, an affection which we Sere had and most likely will have again at different peri At first char- acterized by catarrhal ition of the air passages, it manifests 1 at present by the symptoms of mil bg a at this will, if properly treated, soon yield 1 trary, and cxpored to Pings will ta ) 1 etiol Bethe disease ts tar from be today acetic ee oe Fare ear en 7 Stair wind nigel uring the prevalence will vary, the iaryns to ngesti foes of amps discharge: at the hove, at the eyes, weak increase emparatare, Tyeaknees of the culatory nap aratas Cr ited the condition of ‘the pales. soft and com ible, sometimes so weak hat it is hardly ptible, and in many cases by the yel- pat rian the visible mucous membranes, ‘Th wahted of the di can be ucated vet izing, treatit fa taany Tavesnyes affected euieels are at work heric influences the disease will fatal, complications of the made, and no ly instances Taner mee a 16 PRO} in aueansipfaken at the'suuet and te animal placed at once Under Drover jreatment, But as the disease ip in cams instaioas in its course it requires close it ja ce: on dosnt ide re, the veterinarian will, % to of laryngitis, b; ne cough mix sure! Dice ses, Recah ing water, coetions ad of othersot the kind, watch the general of patient, its loss of appetite, of general tre! ong sec Be will be obi to combine this Home will prove more beneticial’ thaw the eastthae in the carbonate of Amnon, tabred ‘with camphor." These are diitusibie tion with vegetable tonics, mt redult it administered times a di ES i 4 : 3 ia evenens Of pnecens & ame 7 ag She case may require. In many cases smal Dityato of potash iu the drinkacr in roctal injoctiona have alla; the febrile symptoms, Should the of the trachea, ronehial tubes or of the re active treatment suggests itself, powertul counterirritanis upon the along the trachea. treatment of the very conatial point to take into conaderation, and which relates to the hygienic attendance of the affected animais. ‘a8 soon as affected, ix essential, as if the animal is resent epidemic a kept at work the disease will progress and may prove fatal in @ few hours. This is a part of the treatnent I think veteri: fhe to ims) I hygi nd Co according to the condition of ae of the extremities wip! a ing Of the nostrils with vinegar and water are recommended; feeding, of course, requires much attention and careful handling ; Warm ‘gruels, wealded washes and oats nixed with flax- seed. In a few cases roots, carrots, turnips or apples, these to be given according to the condition of the bowels: 1 would also highly recommend: proper ventilation, cleaning of the stables, of manure pits, whitewashing of the stables and the free use of disiniectants, Perhaps, for the sanitarian, the rtant ques- tion is th za ered by soine Ht of col jon, Intit as both com tious, while mt i rs, of no less superion deny it entirety. 1 Would say that I do not consider it as either, and that the result of my observations make mo still stronger in my belief. For this reason do I regret the late order of Secre- tary Boutwell preventing the importation of horses trom Quanta. I contagions, it in too late: it not, 1 will only increase our culties in the horse trade. Hoping that the abeve remarks will be satisfactory for the present, I remain, yours rere seutly, A. LIANTARD, M. D., V. 8. THE EQUINE PLAGUE IN BROOKLYN. rbd The principal streets and thoroughfares were not blockaded yesterday by vehicles, and men, women or children might cross the streets at any sec- tion without running the risk of being knocked down and trampled upon by the horses. The absence of horses trom the streets yes- terday was 80 apparent that it was the subject of general remark, and those who were at first inclined to look upon the reports of the epidemic as greatly exaggerated were con- vinced that the distemper did really prevail TO AN ALARMING EXTENT. Nong were more convinced of this fact than those who" found it necessary to employ the cartmen; for they were compelled to pay more for the cart- age of an article than the article was worth. It was hoped by all who owned horses, and in fact by all who were interested in them, that the weather would be clear; but it could scarcely have been worse for the poor animals than it was yester- day. The appearance of the horses upon tne strects yesterday was indeed a pitiful spectacle to wit- ness. Those which were spirited and full of life before HUNG DOWN THEIR HEADS, disch: d from the nose and conghed severely. The majority, however, had a rest, for their own- ers would not bring them trom their stables. The rain has tended greatly, the stablemen , to augment the disease, and in many cases it will, in all probability, prove fatal. THE RAILROAD COMPANIES, The different railroad companies have already been compelled to replenish their stocks, as 80 many of the horses were unable to work that it was beginning to interfere with the running of the cars. Most of the horses which are now driven on the various routes are afflicted with the disease, Hed ~ put under medical treatment while in the BI le. BROOKLYN OMY RAILROAD COMPANY. Mr. Sullivan, the President of the Brooklyn City Railroad Company, stated yesterday that their horses were much worse, and one at the Fulton avenue stables had died. He was afraid, he said, that many more would die. We have been com- elled, he said, to take off 200 trips on the different ines, and I am afraid we shall have to take off 200 more unless there is an improvement in the con- dition of the animals to-morrow. We shall run all Mr. Hoagland, Superintendent of the Coney Island line, stated that they had 200 horses, and a large number were sick with the disease. eight were very bad and would probably die. He thought they had been more fortunate than some of the other sora ones and wasof the opinion that their new stables, which were well ventilatea and had an excellent drainage, tended to keep the hofses in good health. THE PARK AND VANDERBILT AVENUE LINE. The horses on the Park and Vanderbilt avenue line are reported to be improving. THE DE KALB AVENUE LINE, A number of the horses on this line are sick with the disease, though none are likely to die. The best of care is being taken of them. THE FIFTH AVENUE LINE. The horses on the Fifth avenue line were most Six or all attacked with the distemper yesterday, and there were sixteen of them considered pretty bad. It is dificult to tell wnat the result will be. The Superintendent was applying a lintment.of his own make up, which he thought had a good effect. For a drink he mixed them honey and vinegar. THE FULTON AVENUE LINE, About one hundred of the horses on this line have the disease, but many are improving. The stable- men were of the opinion yesterday that they would lose several. THR MYRTLE AVENUE LINE. A large number of the horses at the stables of this line, which are situated at the head of Myrtle avenue, are aMicted with the distemper, and forty are so bad that they cannot be used. No doubt some of the cases will prove fatal. THE KNICKERBOCKER ICR COMPANY. The Knickerbocker Ice Company were able to drive several of their teams yesterday, but most of their horses are still under treatment. THE WASHINGTON ICE COMPANY, The Washington Ice Company had most of their horses in harness pesreraey, and served their cus- tomers. Although some were pretty bad the com- pany think they will all recover, THE PRIVATE STABLES, The horses in the private stables which were | attacked with the disease are all doing well under the treatment they have received. In Williamsburg. No fatal case has yet occurred in any of the rail- Toad or private stables, but nearly all the horses in the district are afflicted with the disease. There were comparatively few horses worked yesterday, their owners preferring to suspend business rather than work them. The railroad companies, how- ever, ran their cars nearly as regular as possible. Nearly every horseman has a remedy of his own for the disease, and itis not improbable that be- tween the multiplicity of prescriptions given many @ noble horse will perish. THE PESTILENCE IN WESTCHESTER. CUES vate are The equine pestilence appears to be slowly but surely extending itself over Westchester county, to the dismay of street railroad stockholders, livery stable proprietors and many others directly interested in horsefesh. At Yonkers nearly every livery establishment in the city has horses pros- trated with the disease, mo less than fourteen being sick in one stable. The pampered steeds of well-to-do citizens are not exempt from the malady, while on the streets yesterday some of the poor beasts of burden ve evidence of heir inabjlity to toll by their slow gait and a distressing cough. In Morrisania the contagion seems to be still lia but as yet no serious detriment to busi- ness has been occasioned. The Fordham Avenue Railroad Company is still running the usual num- ber of cars, although five or six of their horses, in addition to those already reported, were lald up with the disease yesterday. A brewer named Huepfel, having had six or seven of his horses at- tacked with the prevailing malady, was advised to administer tincture of aconite, but instead of giv- ing it in doses of five drops, a mistake was made, whereby each Fg animal was compelied to swallew five ounces of the poisonous drug. It was eoeene last evening that none of the horses thus dosed could survive. . ——__— Several cases are reported over those of yester- day. The veterinary surgeons are kept busy day and night. None of the animals have yet died from the disease. Some of the horses have been so slightly affected by the contagion that they can be seen still working in the streets. The alarm is abating considerably. The much dreaded plague continues to spread extensively. The horses of the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company caught the infection yes- pene ‘Two horses on the city railroads were seen to Fale eek eamapeoans, it none of the other railroad horses were ‘The number of vic- tims increased in the various stables, though no case has yet proved fatal. The remedies are be- coming a8 numerous as the suffering quadrupeds. THE DISEASE ELSEWHERE. —— In Maine. Aveusra, Oct, 25, 1972, ‘The horse disease bas made ite appearance in this city and a large number of cases have already been reported, only one of which has proved fatal. Tamme, Oct. 25, 1872. Several hundred horses in this v: om are sick with the horse distemper. But few fatal cases have been reported. Oxen Employed in the Streets of Boston. Boston, Mass., Oct. 25, 1872, The horse disease has aéquired greater preva- lence here to-day, and business streets, except tor the crowd of pedestrians, wear. a Sabbath-day ap- pearance. In many instances oxen are substituted for hoxses in hauling heavy freight. The large ex- press companies, having several horses, continue to do the necessary ousiness,: but of the smaller ones are compelied to suspend. “Of ine 1,200 horses owned by the Metropolitan Horse Rail- road nearly every one is affected, and a total sus- Pension of street rauway travel is threatened. Tne “Poor Beasts” Sick ut Portsmouth, N. Re ‘ Portsmourn, N. I, Oct. 25, 1872, Several horses lave been taken suddenly sick here, and it is feared that the disease has reached this city. Reports Along the Hudson. Hupson, N. Y., Oct, 25, 1872. The horse epidemic has made: its appearance in this county. Yesterday @ number of horses were taken sick in Claverack, Chatham, Hilisdale and aflpcent towns. No cases are yet leported in this city. No More Fatal Cases in Newburg. Newsunra, October 25, 1872, Only two new cases of the horse disease are ree ported here to-day, and there have been no addi- tional aeatiis, + The Distemper tn Albany. ALBANY, N, Y., Oct. 25, 1872, Quite a number of hurses are reported sick here from the distemper, though not to the extent of aifecting business, A Ray of Hope trom Buffalo. BurFAato, Oct, 25, 1872, The wet, disagreeable weather, has caused the street. railways to stop running at five o’clock this evening. ‘They have but three well horses out of 300, All their stock hus been worked during their sickness, but none have died yet, ‘The disease about the city is abating, The bad weather forces owners to keep their animals off the street to-day. The Canal Stock Well in Oswego. OsWEGO, Oct, 25, 1872. Only a@ few cases of the horse disease have made their appearance in this city. The towing com- panies let their horses conditionally. They will not be held Mable if any of their horses fail before reaching their destination. The shipments by the canal continue large and uninterrupted. Loss and Inconvenience in Rochester. RocuESTER, N. Y., Oct. 25, 1872. The horse disease shows no abatement. The weather is rainy and damp, and the reports from the various stables are that the horses are much worse than they were yesterday. The inconven- fence and loss to classes of business are very reat. The street car lines have not yet resumed usiness. The canai horses seem to have the disease milder than other classes, Philadelphia Preparing to Meet the Disease. PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 1872. An investigation of all the stables in this city proves that no symptoms of the horse disease have yet appeared. Precautions have been adopted to prevent its spread if it should show itself. ‘There are no cases on either the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventh, Nineteenth, Chestnut or Walnut street railroads. It is said that the disease has appeared in Camden N, J. Horses in Corry, Pa.. Afflicted. Corry, Pa., Oct. 25, 1872. The horse disease has reached here. Eleven were taken sigk jj dy. {be horses of the ex- press compani¢s REM ahi we r Maryland Escapes Yet. BALTIMORE, Oct. 25, 1872. The reports of the horse epidemic in Northern cities have created much anxiety here. Inquiries made this evening of the principal railroad lines and at the different hack stands show that no symptoms of the disease have as yet been discovered and that but little sickness exists in any of the stables. Cases in St. Louis. Sr. Louis, Mo., Oct. 25, 1872. 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, INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 25, 1872. It 1s reported that the Canadian horse disease has made its appearance here and a number of horses are already suflering from it. BOARD OF HEALTH. Straw and Cushions To Be Retained in the Street Cars. Atan informal meeting of the Board of Health held yesterday afternoon arguments were listened to from the Presidents of the various lines of city railroads in opposition to the abolition of cush- joned seats in the cars, The several sections added to the Health ordinances some time since relating to this subject were discussed, and the whole matter is to be brought before the Board at an early day. The night scavengers again presented themselves before the Sanitary Committee to urge upon that body a fall sense of their impoverished condition consequent upon the introduction of the improved system of excavat- ing.: The Sanitarians lis tened to the “bucket” men with great patience, but when their counsel had finished his harangue it was rae | perceptible the faculty of the Boa di not intend to make the entire population of the city of New York suffer in health and incon- venience just for the benefit of the night scaven- gers. Applications for permits to work under the old system were handed in by the Secretary and laid on tne table. These men do not seem to under- stand that the “bucket” system is law and cannot be _ restored. of the people in establishing secure @ means of destroying all dangerous chan- nels of disease, and the Board would not be carry- ing out that intention if they were now to take away the benefits by have already given the poor who live in tenement houses. When the counsel for the bucket’? men had concluded his case Mr. Starin took up the other side and pointed out the ditfer- ence between the two methods, He showed con- clusively that the fight was kept up by house agents and others having control of property for landlords who did not wish to mixin the management of their estates themselves. These agents were in the habit of employing scavengers to excavate sinks at a low figure, and then charging ten times the amount forthe work to the landlord. This. could not be done under the new order of things, and the agents were making a desperate struggie to bring back the paying arrangement. The lives, comfort or health of the poor had no weight with them. The only heaviness they wisned to feel should be in the region of their pockets. The Sanitary Committee reserved its decision on the subject until Wednesday next, FRENCH SUCCOR FOR THE IMMIGRANT AL- SATIANS, Meeting at Delmenico’s Last Night—The mof Raising Funds—Large Contri- butions. A meeting took place last night at Delmonico’s,, in Fourteenth street, of a number of prominent French citizens who obeyed the call of the Société Alsace-Lorraine to come forward and contribute to the suffering immigrants now arriving from tho @oquered territory. Mr. Mercier was voted to the chair, and Mr. Silmarain, of Lorraine, was made secretary. Mr. Charlier proposed that three methods be employed to get contributions, First, That a commitiee of fifteen French citizens be ap” pointed to go round and collect subscriptions for strangers. Second, that an a} ing off the indemnity. Third, that a societ; paying Stished, of which the melabers: should pay certain sum on call. After 9 at amount of excited discussion. during which Mr. Orchard ‘paid @ tribute to the ex is Of Mr. Joseph Strauss to succor the tions were the two first ah und the thita was rejected, ‘was resolved Poretect &@ committee of fliteen, who should pay ail they received into the treasury of the Société Lorraine, and also to prepare an address to the ladies having eharge of the deliverance fund. Fifteen committeemen were then named, and con- tributions were made to the extent of about fifteen hundred dollars on the spot, The Department of Public Parks announce that the intended unveiling of the Scott statue is post- poned on account of the storm untih furthey tices