138 Glanders. 



Just as it happens in th€ case of gouty persons, where a bruise or 

 any external injury;, is frequently known to occasion an immediate fit 

 of the gout. But, inasmuch, as a blow or bruise, will not produce 

 a fit of gout, in any other than a gouty habit, so, neither will a 

 wound in the nose of a Horse, produce Glanders in the animal, 

 unless, he have the glanderous poison in his blood, or (if this mode 

 of explanation be objected to) unless there be a tendency in the living 

 fibre, to take on the glanderous action. In both these cases (if I 

 may be allowed to borrow a metaphor by way of illustrating my 

 argument) the combustible must be ready, ere the spark can act, the 

 train must be laid, before the explosion can take place. 



Pursuing this chain of argument, I think there can be no man- 

 ner of question, that in many instances of influenza, or common 

 colds, the Glanders has been brought on prematurely, (at least) by 

 the absurd and injurious practice, Avhich some Farriers and conceited 

 Grooms adopt, of injecting into the nostrils, liquids mixed with sub- 

 stances of a highly acrid, irritating nature, such as pepper, mus- 

 tard, &c. 



And this they frequently do, either by way of curing some di- 

 sease which they imagine to be Glanders, or of preventing the 

 access of this disorder. Nay, I know an instance of a presump- 

 tuous half-educated man, who sets up for a Veterinarian, and who 

 actually piques himself, upon aclopting this ridiculous practice ; from 

 which he fancies the animal derives great part of tliat advantage^ 

 which is obtained solely by a very long run at grass, which he 

 uniformly prescribes, after the use of his injection. There is no 

 one point indeed, on which I am better satisfied, nor one which 



