In the late 1872, there was a sudden loss of horse power in North America west of the Mississippi. This impacted all aspects of daily life as it was the horses that hauled streetcars, fire engines, and local freight. The horses fell sick with influenza, causing a slowdown in cities as they struggled to find alternate means to deliver goods and passengers. This was a significant challenge in a time when cities heavily relied on horse-power for transportation.
The disease, known as the Epizootic, spread from Canada down to Boston and New York and further west to cities like Chicago, Cincinnati, Norfolk, and Charleston, causing symptoms similar to human flu. While most horses did not die from the disease, they were unable to work, leading to a significant decrease in transportation and mobility within these cities.
Numerous treatments were attempted, including bleeding, as well as the use of toxic substances such as belladonna and arsenic. However, the most effective remedies were rest and good care, which many horses did not receive due to the pressure of maintaining business operations. Many were overworked and treated poorly, even after contracting the flu, leading to an increase in mortality rates.
The near collapse of fire department mobility was one of the most worrying aspects of this crisis, as only a few fire horses remained unaffected. This led to significant delays in responding to fire incidents, resulting in extensive damage and destruction in cities like Boston.
The impact of this event led many to consider the need for mechanical alternatives to replace horses on the streets, as the paralysis of urban life highlighted the vulnerability of being heavily dependent on animal labor.
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