INHERITANCE OF DISEASE. 95 



greater complication. Hence, the liabilities of transmitting 

 disease are increased. 



When diseases are called transmissible, or hereditary, it is 

 not meant that disease itself is transmitted in an active stage, 

 but a morbid state or predisposition that necessarily results 

 in disease. This, of course, is generally of a chronic charac- 

 ter, and is far more difficult to detect than acute disease. At 

 the same time some chronic complaints, like rheumatism, con- 

 sumption, and those of the stomach and bowels, are somewhat 

 easily discovered, while others are difficult of detection, being 

 latent and internal, — such as the scrofulous, the tiiberculated, 

 and those that particularly affect the liver, the kidneys and 

 the blood. In the improvement of stock it is of the highest 

 importance that we should guard against the first approaches 

 of all hereditary diseases. No one thing can possibly injure 

 the value or use of stock as some form of scrofula, which may 

 be concealed in the system for years, or may be transmitted 

 through successive generations, afterwards to break out. As 

 it is, very difficult to distinguish by any external signs or 

 symptoms this class of complaints, our protection from them 

 must depend mainly upon pedigree or the character of the 

 breed. As in all sanitary matters, prevention of disease is the 

 great secret of success, so here the means that are most condu- 

 cive to its prevention are of the highest importance." Now, 

 the nearer we approach in breeding the true law of propaga- 

 tion, by keeping up a harmony of balance in the whole organ- 

 ization, by avoiding the transmission of weak parts or organs 

 inadequate to perform their legitimate functions, the less will 

 be the liability or predisposition to disease. In fact, as dis- 

 ease, wherever found, is a violation of some. law, it would 

 seem that those principles of breeding, whose chief aim is to 

 prevent disease of every kind, must have their source and 

 fountain-head in a great law of propagation founded in nature, 

 which is universal and eternal. 



Closely connected with this part of the subject is another 

 which exerts great influence, viz. : the physical condition of 

 the parent stock just before and at the time of begetting off- 

 spring. The male and female both should be in a most vigor- 

 ous and healthy state, neither given to indolent repose, nor 

 subjected to hardships or excesses of any kind. It is almost 



