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They had influenza epidemics, too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equine_influenza
Specifically, the Boston Fire of 1872 was as bad as it was because they had to have _people_ pull the steam powered pump wagons, as the horses were so sick they couldn't stand up in their stalls, much less work. Also, caused a Panic in 1873. Affected warfare. Etc.
File under things that would have made history so much more entertaining to a morbid tweener, if only because it completely horrified a bunch of the rest of the classroom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equine_influenza
Specifically, the Boston Fire of 1872 was as bad as it was because they had to have _people_ pull the steam powered pump wagons, as the horses were so sick they couldn't stand up in their stalls, much less work. Also, caused a Panic in 1873. Affected warfare. Etc.
File under things that would have made history so much more entertaining to a morbid tweener, if only because it completely horrified a bunch of the rest of the classroom.