PREVENTIVE MEDICINE 195 



Among the most important of the active measures he is to take 

 is the complete isolation of the sick or suspected sick from the 

 apparently healthy. Isolation of the sick in the case of infectious 

 diseases should not be limited to diseases that are under official 

 control. 



The isolation of all animals suspected or known to be suffering 

 from any communicable disease is of primary importance, and to be 

 of any value whatsoever must be complete and thorough. Partial 

 or indifferent isolation is very dangerous, as it tends to promote a 

 false feeling of security with consequent laxity in other and more 

 general directions. As already stated complete isolation of sick 

 animals is very often difficult, if not indeed impossible, on many of 

 the premises in which animals are kept. Every effort should, how- 

 ever, be made to see that the isolation is as complete as possible, and 

 that without any loss of time. Not only the animal but all appurten- 

 ances belonging to it and necessary for use while the animal is ill, 

 such as rugs, halter, grooming tools, bucket, &c., must be completely 

 isolated from contact either directly or indirectly with healthy 

 stock. 



The attendant on the patient must be regarded as equally 

 infective as the patient itself. In many instances in veterinary 

 practice it is most difficult to obtain a separate attendant for one 

 sick animal, but the best should be done with the means at one's 

 disposal. 



If it is absolutely necessary that the same man attends both sick 

 and healthy, then the sick must be attended to last, and the attendant 

 must take due precautions to cleanse himself before passing among 

 the non-infected stock. He should be provided with overalls 

 which he should wear only when working among the sick. 



The period of isolation must extend beyond the recovery of the 

 animal, and not be lifted until all possibility of infection has 

 passed away. The time limit is in many instances difficult to deter- 

 mine and varies with the different diseases, but it is better to err on 

 the side of caution than to return an animal to the association of 

 the healthy prematurely. Undue haste in this respect often undoes 

 all the good that might have been derived from the previous care 

 and labour. 



A great deal of unnecessary disease might be prevented if people 

 gave due consideration to the rights of others and kept their sick 

 animals under proper control and out of the way of doing harm. 

 Mangey dogs, for example, are allowed to roam with perfect free- 

 dom about the streets and in any public place. 



Distemper is passed from animal to animal by the thoughtless- 



