/ 



442 On the Horse Sickness. 



unfortunately I know the contrary too well, but even the 

 imperfect stables of this District, which are often without 

 doors, and always without windows, their place being sup- 

 plied by unclosed air-holes, are a great protection to horses, 

 as common experience proves. But as by far the greater 

 proportion of the horses of this Colony is necessarily left to 

 run at large in the field, it becomes an object of primary im- 

 portance to inquire what description of country is least liable 

 to the disease, and there it is that my inquiries and experience 

 may benefit the public. 



It is a constant practice in this District, to send horses to 

 the highest lands about Mid-summer, at which time the dis- 

 ease generally makes its appearance, and on any rumour of 

 its approach. This practice is founded on experience and 

 reason, for it is known that there are places on the highest 

 mountains of the Sneeuwberg, where horses seldom or ever 

 die of the " Sickness," which is to be accounted for by the 

 well-known fact, that those places, although cold, are not 

 liable to sudden changes of climate ; on the other hand, the 

 low country, or as it is here called, the "Thornland," for the 

 Mimosa does not grow on high mountains, is notorious for its 

 unhealthiness for horses ; for although warm, it is liable to 

 sudden changes to cold, when the mist descends from the 

 hills, bringing death to horses. Summer is here the rainy 

 season ; the wetest summers have been the most fatal ; rain is 

 always followed by a change of temperature, and the appear- 

 ance of young grass, thence the popular belief that horses die 

 of eating it; but the change of temperature will account for 

 that much better; the same may be said of the belief that dew 

 is injurious to them, for it is known that horses die when 

 turned out of a warm stable to graze before the dew is off the 

 grass, and it is also known that when the atmosphere becomes 

 warm the dew is evaporated. 



Garlic given with food is constantly used here as a preven- 

 tative, but on what grounds I do not know, neither have I 

 ever seen any good effects from it ; but popular experience is 

 always worthy of attention ; I believe the only preventatives 

 for this fatal malady, are good grooming and stabling, or pro- 

 bably warm clothing of some description or other, and where 

 these things cannot be obtained, sending the horses to the 

 hio-hest mountains, where the disease is known not to reach. 



The only plan of cure when the disease appears, is to be 

 vio-ilant, and use the remedies above-mentioned, or similar 

 ones, in its earliest s'a^es. 



iVo/e. We have received other Communications respecting this mala<l\, 

 hut consider the experience detailed in this paper, and the interest it has 

 excited, as pre-eminently requiring that it should be circulated, as Wide!) as 

 possible. 



