GLANDERS. 63 



stant slowness of pace of the one, and the occasional and fre- 

 quent rajitidity of that of the other. This difference may 

 cease to exist whenever the ox is forced into quick work, and, 

 especially, should he be fat at the time. In such condition, 

 under the influence of hurried respiration, oxydation of the 

 combustible elements takes place with so great rapidity that 

 the exhalation of the carbonic acid product can not get vent 

 with sufficient celerity, and the consequence is, the animal 

 dies asphyxiated or carbonneux. In this case, a new principle, 

 a ferment, becomes generated in the blood, under the influence 

 of extreme oxydation. 



"XII. I am not to be supposed to admit that, in every 

 case, glanders is the result of extreme oxydation. I reserve 

 this interpretation for one cause alone of the disease, viz.: 

 overwork." 



The above lengthy extract may puzzle some, on account of 

 the scientific terms found in it; but I have not taken the 

 liberty of changing the author's language to the simple style 

 of my work. I have, however, put in a few explanatory 

 words, and by the aid of these, and by first reading the article 

 on respiration, any one, itns hoped, may be able to understand 

 the above quotation. Physicians sometimes contract a dis- 

 ease when dissecting dead bodies, which is produced in the 

 following way: The process of decomposition going on in the 

 dead body gives rise to a peculiar ferment; and this is so 

 subtle, that when the finger is cut by the knife used in dis- 

 secting, some of the poison is left in the v/ound, and is carried 

 into the system through the blood, and, acting as a ferment, 

 induces a similar process in the living body to that going on 

 in the dead one. This is called septic poison. This affection 

 in the human patient bears many striking resemblances to 

 glanders in the horse. Considerable danger attends the 

 handling of the glandered horse, for a person may contract 

 the disease by inoculation; so may other animals. I knew 



