GLANDERS. ! 07 



GLANDERS. 



The most formidable of all the diseases to which the horse is 

 subject, is Glanders. It has been known from the earliest an- 

 tiquity. 



The earliest symptom of Glanders is an increased discharge 

 from the nostril, small in quantity, constantly flowing, of an aque- 

 ous (watery) character, and a little mucus mingling with it. 



It is a common and very mischievous error to suppose that this 

 discharge is sticky, when it first makes its appearance. It is an 

 aqueous or mucous, but small and constant discharge, and is thus 

 distinguished from catarrh, or nasal gleet, or any other deiluxion 

 (discharge) from the nostril. If a horse is in the highest condi- 

 tion, yet has this small water}'' constant discharge, and especially 

 from one nostril, no time should be lost in separating him from 

 his companions. No harm will be done by this, although the 

 defluxion should not ultimately betray lurking mischief of a worse 

 character. 



The peculiar stickiness and gluiness which is generally supposed 

 to distinguish the discharge of glanders from all other mucous 

 and prevalent secretions belongs to the second stage of the dis- 

 ease, and, for many months before this, glanders may have ex- 

 isted in an insidious and highly contagious form. It must be ac- 

 knowledged, however, that, in the majority of cases, some degree 

 of stickiness does characterise the discharge of glanders from a 

 very early period. 



It is a singular circumstance, for which no satisfactory accouni 

 has yet been given, that when one nostril alone is attacked, it is. 

 in a great majority of cases, the near, or left. 



This discharge, m cases of infection, may continue, and in sc 

 shght a degree as to be scarcely perceptible, for many months, or 

 even two or three years, unattended by any other disease, even 

 ulceration of the nostril, and yet the horse being decidedly glaii- 

 dered from the beginning, and capable of propagating the mala- 

 dy. In process of time, however, pus (matter) mingles with tlit» 

 discharge, and then another and a characteristic symptom a}>- 

 pears. Some of this is absorbed, and the neighbouring glands be- 

 come affected. If there is discharge from both nostrils, the glands 

 within the under jaw will be on both sides enlarged. If the 

 discharge is from one nostril only, the swelled gland will be found 

 on that side alone. Glanders, however, will frequently exist at 

 an early stage without these swelled glands, and some other dis- 

 eases, as catarrh, will produce them. Then we must look out 

 for some peculiarity about these glands, and we shall readily find 

 it The swelling may be at first somewhat large and diffused. 



