NO PREVENTIVES AVAILABLE. 153 



the secretions of the animal, and perhaps absolutely prevent 

 the disease. I do not know that they do, but I think very 

 likely that they clo. I merely give you these opinions, gentle- 

 men, for what they are worth. 



Mr. Hubbard. The gentleman last up says that if horses 

 are exposed, he thinks they will have the disease. Now, the 

 first gentleman said that he thought the disease was not con- 

 tagious. 



Dr. Bates. I do not say that it is contagious ; I say the 

 horses are exposed to currents of atmosphere, not exposed to 

 the disease in other horses. 



Dr. Slade. I have three horses, and neither of them has 

 yet been attacked by the disease, although surrounded by it 

 on all sides. By some mj^sterious power, Avhich I do not un- 

 derstand, my horses have been protected ; neither of them has 

 shown the slightest symptoms as yet, but that does not prove 

 that we shall not have it in our stable. I do not believe, of 

 course, in the preventives which I see constantly recom- 

 mended. One man recommends a large piece of assafoetida 

 tied to his horse's bit, and there is a great deal such nonsense, 

 which, of course, cannot have any etfect. 



Mr. Sessions. It may be that doctors' horses are more 

 exempt from this disease than those of farmers. There is a 

 physician in our place whose horse has escaped thus far, and 

 of course he has exposed him, if there is any exposure, for he 

 has driven him night and day, on all occasions and in all 

 places. I asked him why it was that his horse had escaped 

 the disease, and he said he did not know, unless it was that 

 he took care of him. I have three horses that I fed with 

 apples from the first of October until the day of election. On 

 that day, they all three showed symptoms of the disease, but 

 in a mild form, and we are now working them every day. I 

 flattered myself, up to that time, that the apples prevented 

 the disease from coming into my stable, but they did not ; 

 nevertheless, I think they are a great help. 



Dr. Wakefield, of Monson. May I render a short account 

 of my stewardship in regard to horses? We have had six 

 working-horses and two colts. They have all been sick, 

 but not very sick, I suppose. I have seen but few cases 

 except our own. I have treated them in this way : I have 



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