43 



that it prevails more in low marshy districts than in 

 mountainous localities, more in rainy seasons than in 

 dry, and more in cold weather than in hot, but that the 

 latter is accounted for by the fact that in Japan the 

 animals are crowded into stables during the winter ; 

 wounds and contusions are more frequent as a result, 

 and the modes of infection are, therefore, much easier 

 under these circumstances. On the other hand, 

 Lingard goes so far as to say that the disease cannot 

 exist in cold countries, and mentions that experiments 

 conducted at Muktesar, India, have shown that a 

 cure can be affected by removing animals to a high 

 level, i.e., 7) 500 feet, and recommends it as a method 

 of accelerating a cure. Head, writing recently in the 

 Veterinary Record, states that he had over one hundred 

 patients at one time suffering from the disease in South 

 Africa, and mentions that ' a change of air to a high district 

 helps the case.' 



My own experience is that neither climates, 

 districts, nor seasons have themselves practically anything 

 to do with the spread and development of the disease, 

 although indirectly they may, as the various conditions 

 which are subject to and altered by them, may aid or retard 

 development, and on reference to the history and 

 geographical distribution of the disease, it will be found 

 that these opinions are fairly well substantiated. 



General Methods of Infection 



The infection may be carried by or on anything — 

 e.g., vehicles, soil, fences, dust, gates, stables, harness, 

 horse-clothing, grooming and stable utensils, litter, 

 fodder, parasites, flies, etc. ; by attendants, and more 

 particularly by amateur and careless veterinary assistants 

 and even surgeons— on their hands, clothes, or on 



