244 Report on the Contarjivas and 



be expected. There is reason to conclude that glanders is propagated only hy 

 means of the diseased secretions coming in contact witli either an abraded sur- 

 face or the mucous membrane of another animal. The contagium does not 

 appear to be so easily diffu&ible as that of cattle plague ; and it sometimes 

 happens that a glandered horse will remain for a long time at one end of the 

 stable, and if care is taken to confine the use of the buckets and implements 

 which are u&& i'hout him to that especial purpose, no extension of the disease 

 takes place^e t>1ae great risk, however, of such a mode of jjrocedure is at once 

 apparent. ■^'' 



The effects of the virus of glanders are sometimes manifested exclusively on 

 the skin, and esiiecially the skin of the extremities. This form of the disease, 

 which is termed " farcy," generally commences by a swelling of one of the 

 extremities, the development of small knots in the course of the absorbent 

 vessels, and ulceration of the surface. 



No doubt can exist of the identity of " farcy " with " glanders " as each 

 form of disease has been produced by inoculation with the virus of the other. 



The treatment of glanders, although apparently successful in some cases, 

 is in all respects objectionable. Unless very great precautions are taken there 

 is a risk of the communication of infection to the healthy animals, and it has 

 been found, in stables where glandered horses have been submitted to treatment, 

 that the disease has gone on for years, while it has been quickly exhausted 

 when the practice of slaughtering the diseased animals immediately on the 

 detection of the symptoms of the a£fection has been adopted instead. 



It has been stated that glandered horses are capable of doing ordinary work 

 apparently without any inconvenience to themselves. This fact induces 

 owners of diseased animals to keep them alive in order that they may obtain 

 the benefit of their services quite regardless of the risk which the owners of 

 other animals are thereby compelled to incur. 



It is known that in some large horse establishments a si^ecial stable is set 

 apart for those animals which have been condemned as glandered by the 

 veterinary surgeon in attendance. These horses, instead of being sent to the 

 slaughter-house in accordance with the recommendation of the i^rofessional 

 attendant, have been kept in the "condemned cell" and employed exclusively 

 for night work. Owners of glandered animals "will not give notice of the 

 existence of the disease, and unless all the horses in large establishments are 

 placed under supervision, and jieriodically examined by a competent inspector, 

 it is impossible to ascertain the existence of the malady. 



Without this knowledge the application of the provisions of the Act — 

 which after all would only compel the owner to keep the animals on his own 

 premises — cannot be insisted upon. 



The effectual control of glanders by legislation would necessitate compulsory 

 slaughter of all animals which are undoubtedly the subjects of the disease, 

 whether they were exposed in a public place or found on the owner's premises, 

 and the placing of the rest of the horses on the same premises under super- 

 vision until such time as the risk of the extension of the disease had ceased. 



The American Hokse Distemper. 



Some apprehension was occasioned in the latter part of October in con- 

 sequence of the report of an outbreak of a new contagious disease among the 

 horses in New York. Shortly afterwards came the still more alaianing 

 announcement that three animals afiected with the disease had been shipped 

 on board the " Egypt " at New York to this country. 



The animals referred to actually arrived on November 6th at Liverpool. 

 The veterinary inspector was instructed to examine them on their arrival, and 

 if necessary, to detain, them until instructions were sent to him from this 

 department as to their disposal. 



