The Great Epizootic of 1872

To provide a historical perspective on the effects of the current bird
flu epidemic, it's worthwhile to share what happened when undocumented
Canadian horse flu viruses illegally crossed the border into the
United States:

<https://youtu.be/u4d_sBoCcjg>

Not a sound was heard in the silent street,
as home from the concert we hurried. 

We found not a streetcar, carriage, nor bus,
and we felt considerably worried. 

We hailed a driver we used to know,
and hurriedly ask him the reason. 

He said as he sadly lowered his head,
"The horses were all a sneezin'."


The first cases of horse flu were reported in Toronto Canada in
September 1872.  By the spring of 1873, it had spread to both coasts,
Cuba, and Mexico.  Although it wasn't especially fatal to the horses,
from 1% to 5%, they were incapable of labor for at least two weeks
while they recovered. 

To appreciate the epidemic's impact, almost all economic activity at
the time was powered by horses.  Imagine what it would be like today
if all electric motors and internal combustion engines suddenly
stopped working.

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To know less than we don't know is the nature of most knowledge