322 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



The Preventive treatment of glanders is to be found under the 

 head of farcy. 



HEREDITARY CONDITIONS AND DISEASES. 



There are certain states which are present at birth, either 

 constituting in themselves actual disease, or otherwise bordering 

 upon it, that in breeding it would be wise to avoid their descent, 

 by the choice of animals which do not possess these states in 

 themselves. As for instance, mares or stallions with imperfectly 

 formed hocks transmit the peculiarity to their offspring, and this 

 conformation predisposes the young animal to the formation of 

 spavin, &c, &c. Animals may be born healthy, but disease 

 arises in consequence of the strain of severe work on imperfectly 

 or inadequately formed joints. The same occurs with others in 

 their tendency to contract ring bones, side bones, ruptures, &c. ; 

 to become roarers, broken-winded, vicious, indolent, fiery, &c, 

 &c. — all are alike hereditary. Accidental states, or those changes 

 in form produced by diseased action itself, the consequence of 

 direct injury, are not as a rule handed down. There is sufficient, 

 however, to afford ample warning to those who wish to perpetuate 

 a breed of good horses. 



In one district I operated upon more than fifty foals in two 

 seasons — colts and fillies — for exomphalus, or rupture at the 

 navel, present at birth, the result of breeding from one stallion 

 kept in the locality ; and during the stay of that animal in the 

 neighbourhood I could obtain tidings of more than fifty others 

 which were born in a similar condition. I have been able also 

 to trace disease, in no small degree, of the feet, arising from the 

 peculiar predisposition of form being handed down from animals 

 affected with disease in those parts, as well as of spavins, and 

 other conditions which tend to render our horses worthless. 



It is lamentable that our system of breeding horses should 

 be carelessly conducted. So long as we neglect to choose sires 

 and dams, and breeding horses is a matter of compulsion, and 

 considered disagreeable, we must expect abnormal states and 

 conditions, all of which, in the end, cause the expenditure of 

 much valuable time and money without effecting one quarter of 

 the good which it should be fairly expected to represent. 



If w T e would have sound animals, those which have not ex- 

 ceeded five years old should be chosen, and these having special 

 reference to soundness and good formation, void of all diseased 

 tendencies and habits which eventually become disease ; and, if 

 we would preserve them in their soundness, we should feed 

 them in accordance with the nature and requirements of their 

 digestive organs, and work them as if we valued their lives, 

 and looked upon them as forming a great portion of our valuable 

 stock. 



