518 CHAPTER 66. 



that they are nearly always due to local causes (see Chapter 67, " Origin 

 of Diseases ") aided by bad sanitary arrangements. I believe that so- 

 called infectious and contagious diseases will rarely, if ever, spread under 

 good sanitary arrangements, and under circumstances favorable to health. 

 I have had a good deal to do with horses all my life. In cleanly, well- 

 ventilated stables, and with horses properly cared for, I have never known 

 a case of so-called infectious or contagious disease spreading to any 

 serious extent. I have seen on several occasions cases of glanders, farcy, 

 mange, and other such like diseases, isolated cases, but in my own expe- 

 rience I have never seen any of these diseases spread where the conditions 

 have been favorable to health, and where the stable management has 

 been good. 



1041. The Cost of Ignorance. 



Of the losses suffered by the community from neglect or ignorance 

 of the laws of health as affecting animals, it is impossible to give any 

 estimate. But I will give a few examples which happen to be within my 

 own knowledge. I was asked a few years ago to go over the accounts of 

 the horse department of a large coal and iron company. I found that 

 their horses cost on an average 50, and lasted about three years. 

 Shortly afterwards I went over the accounts of another large company, 

 doing similar work, but managed by a competent Veterinary surgeon. In 

 this case the horses cost an average of ,40, and lasted about six years. 

 Both establishments had about four hundred horses. The total difference 

 of cost between the two establishments for renewal of horse stock, food, 

 etc., was over 6000 per annum, but the real difference was much greater, 

 because in the first-mentioned establishment a considerable proportion of 

 horses wer.e constantly sick, and therefore unfit for work. A few weeks 

 ago I was asked to go over the stables of a large London brewery. They 

 were admirably managed. Their horses lasted on an average ten years. 

 I believe five to six years is common in that class of work. The London 

 cab horse lasts about three years. 



1042. Animal Pain. 



The question of animal pain and suffering is, perhaps, more interesting 

 than any other subject connected with the lower creation. That the 

 higher class of animals suffer from pain as acutely as man is, I think, 

 quite susceptible of proof. That their diseases are much the same, 

 assume the same types, and require the same treatment as those of man, 

 is known to every Veterinarian. For instance, the phenomena of inflam- 

 mation are exactly the same as in man. We believe the pain to be the 

 same. We can hardly doubt but that the desire of the animal to get 

 well is the same as in man. But here we meet in our investigation with 

 a difficult obstacle, which I do not attempt to solve. I merely mean to 

 state it and the facts connected with it. 



Animals suffer from pain, from disease, from accidents. Such is the 

 law of Providence, the law of creation, so far as we can see. Man also 



