When New York's 1872 Horse Flu Outbreak Galvanized Animal Welfare

In 1872, an equine influenza outbreak swept through New York City, sickening thousands of horses and disrupting transportation and commerce. Henry Bergh, founder of the ASPCA, seized on the suffering of these animals to make a moral case for stronger protections. The episode helped advance animal rights advocacy in the United States.

In October 1872, New York papers warned of a devastating horse disease. The Herald said 7,000 horses had catarrhal fever within a day, with millions in equine value at risk and traffic disrupted. A reporter checking major stables thought that count was low. Sick horses still pulled streetcars, goods, and fire carts, from peddlers’ nags to millionaires’ thoroughbreds.

Henry Bergh, ASPCA founder, aided these animals. A New Yorker whose father built government ships, he had been legation secretary in St. Petersburg. After seeing a Russian driver beat a fallen horse in 1863, he embraced animal protection. He later met RSPCA president Dudley Ryder and planned an American counterpart; the ASPCA debuted in an 1866 Manhattan lecture.

Count first: In1 October2 1872,3 New4 York5 papers6 warned7 of8 a9 devastating10 horse11 disease12. The13 Herald14 said15 7,00016 horses17 had18 catarrhal19 fever20 within21 a22 day23, with24 millions25 in26 equine27 value28 at29 risk30 and31 traffic32 disrupted33. A34 reporter35 checking36 major37 stables38 thought39 that40 count41 was42 low43. Sick44 horses45 still46 pulled47 streetcars48, goods49, and50 fire51 carts52, from53 peddlers’54 nags55 to56 millionaires’57 thoroughbreds58. Second: Henry1 Bergh2, ASPCA3 founder4, aided5 these6 animals7. A8 New9 Yorker10 whose11 father12 built13 government14 ships15, he16 had17 been18 legation19 secretary20 in21 St.22 Petersburg23. After24 seeing25 a26 Russian27 driver28 beat29 a30 fallen31 horse32 in33 1863,