GLANDERS AND FARCY 37 



the pustules in the skin. In epizootic lymphangitis will be observed a 

 number of small, highly refractile lemon-shaped bodies, some free and 

 others contained in the pus corpuscles. These are the cryptococci by which 

 the disease is caused. Glanders, on the other hand, will be recognized 

 by the mallein test, and, in addition, the inoculation of guinea-pigs and 

 the cultivation of the organism on ditierent media, as potato, bouillon, 

 agar-agar, and serum-gelatine. Such complicated tests are, of course, not 

 likely to be applied excepting in cases where a valual)le horse is con- 

 demned as suHering from farcy, and the symptoms are limited to tlie 

 lymphatics of the extremities. 



Precautions to be taken to prevent the spreading of Glanders. 



— It is now perfectly well known that glanders is comnmnicahle to the 

 human subject, and by inoculation to guinea-pigs, sheep, and goats. Cattle 

 only sufter local disease, rabbits are very slightly susceptible. Among the 

 carnivora, lions and other animals of the same class, kept in menageries 

 and fed on raw flesh of horses, incur the risk of getting glanderous matter 

 in this way introduced into their systems. Several cases of extensive 

 ulceration of the skin of the paws, followed by the death of the animals, 

 have occurred among lions in different parts of the country. It is satis- 

 factory, however, to note that the infective matter of glanders does not 

 retain its activity for a very long time ; exposure to dry air kills it in 

 fifteen to twenty days; but so long as a horse is affected with the disease 

 in any form, a constant supply of the virus is kept up, and susceptible 

 animals, as well as men attending upon the diseased horse, incur a certain 

 amount of risk. Suspected animals, therefore, should be kept in a secure 

 place until the nature of the disease is determined. The injection of 

 mallein will at once resolve any doubt which may exist, and if the sus- 

 pected horse exhibits the characteristic reaction — that is, rise of tempera- 

 ture to 103°, 104°, or 105°, with signs of systematic disturbance, dulness 

 and loss of appetite, and a swelling at the seat of inoculation — it is 

 tolerably certain that the suspected horse is suflfering from glanders, and 

 it should be destroyed without delay. 



Glanders is the only contagious disease of the horse which is dealt with 

 by any general order under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. 



The Glanders and Farcy Order of 1894 gives extensive powers to local 

 authorities with regard to public warning of the existence of the disease; 

 the movement of diseased or suspected horses, asses, or mules; cleansing 

 and disinfection ; and also for slaughter of diseased horses and the payment 

 of compensation. The first duty of the owner of a diseased horse is to give 

 notice of the fact of the existence of the disease to a police constable in his 

 district, which notice will be communicated to the local authority and to 



