then, 39 million people live in the United StatesThe number of horses exceeded 7 million, to which more than 1 million mules were added. The total number of horses exceeds 8 million. They also play an important role, whether it’s for transportation, the economy… or life. It can be said that they are veritable national engines.
That year, an outbreak affecting horses was reported in a suburb of Toronto, Canada. Within a few days, most of the animals in the city, such as those used to move the trams, sleeping together, or kept in free, crowded stables, were infected. flu symptoms are obvious: Severe coughing, fever, drooping ears… They could barely stand up, and many ended up falling down from exhaustion. Many people died.
In the U.S., they were concerned, but at the time information didn’t travel as fast and decisions couldn’t be made at the same speed. By the time they decided to close the border to Canadian horses, it was too late. The virus has crossed over, and cases have been found in cities farther north, such as Detroit or Boston.
Horse owners don’t know what to do to stop contagion
In fact, it was later discovered that it was a virus. So it was 20 years before scientists discovered the first virus. It’s unclear how it spreads or what can be done to stop it. Horse owners don’t know what to do. They sanitized the stables, put new blankets on them… as veterinary knowledge was still very primitive, many turned to controversial compounds such as gin and ginger. Of course, there are those who try to stop the virus through faith.
Clearly, these remedies have not worked. Within days, all the horses in the eastern part of the country were infected. For example, a New York Times report at the time stated that 95 percent of Rochester’s horses were infected. In December, horses in the Gulf of Mexico were affected. In early 1873, an outbreak was detected on the West Coast. Within weeks, the entire country was affected.
This is not an animal welfare issue, but a vital economic one.
The entire American economy depends on horses and mules.
It must be remembered that at that time horses and mules were the key to the functioning of the country. Most commercial and urban transportation relies on mules.. In New York, all travel has come to a standstill. Trams don’t work. Of course, it also affects freight. Ships and railways stopped running because the coal for the boilers could not reach the port. As if that wasn’t enough, it was impossible to continue extracting coal from the mines, since it was actually also dependent on horses.
Crops cannot reach the market. Many perishable products rot in the stalls because no one picks them up. The beer in the bar is sold out. The postman couldn’t deliver the mail. Some businessmen were afraid, so they came to hire people to pull the carts.
Since it also affected the major events of the time, such as passenger transport, weddings and funerals, far fewer people attended and were unable to attend.
One of the scariest incidents occurred in Boston when a fire ravaged parts of downtown and had to be walked because firefighters couldn’t arrive in time to extinguish the blaze.
Even the Army is affected! Was involved in several wars against Indians across the country, against Apaches, Comanches, Cheyenne, Sioux… they cannot count on the support of the cavalry. Had to be infantry on foot, and they had to fight alone for weeks.
All life is disrupted.At the height of the pandemic, many Americans They start wondering if the world will go back to the way it used to be once. According to Smithsonian Magazine, a Boston newspaper emphasized that the virus has shown everyone that horses are not just private property, but cogs in the great social machine, whose disruption means harm to people of all classes and conditions. extensive damage.
Great Depression
But disease is losing its power.fear of a person coal shortageThe plans at the time did not materialize, only fuel prices rose due to fears of possible supply shortages. Cities are gradually recovering. In the spring of 1873, the horses had recovered and returned to work, almost fully back to normal.estimate 1% to 2% of horses die.
Everything that happened in those months had two key consequences. On the one hand, it’s a boost for the cause of animals. Subsequently, many reconsidered the treatment of horses, which they defined as typical of the Middle Ages.
On the other hand, many believe the pandemic was one of the causes of the September 1873 Crisis, which is considered the first global economic depression.