CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 2G7 



'^Yol•l(l witli a surplus meat supply excellent in quality and abundant 

 in quantity. 



GLANDERS AND FARCY. 



The disease known as glanders or farcy is so insidious in its character 

 as to need most c ireful inquiry and inspection on the part of local, State, 

 and national authorities. Unless large powers are given, the laws will 

 be evaded and the disease perpetuated. This has been signally illus- 

 trated iu a series of cases that have occurred in the South Orange car 

 stables, in Newark, during the last year. There is reason to believe 

 that over a year since a case of glanders occurred in those stables, which 

 was claimed to have been cured. About August 1, 1883, the attention 

 of the local boards of South Orange and Newark, and of the State, was 

 called thereto tlirough a legal ])rocess of inquiry. The disease was found 

 so extensive that about sixty head of horses had to be killed. Not long 

 After the veterinarian in charge. Dr. J. W. Hawk, of Newark, condemned 

 three more. The owner consented at once to their destruction. There 

 was delay as to one, which had the least external manifestation, and 

 during the delay the owner, under unfortunate rival advice, concluded 

 that the animal was sound. Afterward the certificate of the veterina- 

 rian was given to that effect. The State board of health and its vet- 

 erinarian were refused entrance to the stable. Owing to alleged or pos- 

 sible defects in the law a new one was passed. It was not, therefore, 

 until April that the board was again able to secure undisputed entry. 

 On the first visit this horse was found with symptoms of glanders, and 

 a 'postmortem examiiuition fully attested the former diagnosis. There 

 were other suspicious cases, and it was found necessary soon afrer to 

 condemn two more. The disease is now in such a chronic, and in some 

 cases proba I3' iu euch a concealed form, that it is claimed by some that 

 nothing short of a destruction of all the livestock and the buildings will 

 eradicate it. Occasional c ises are now occurring in other parts of the 

 city. The whole history of these cases illustrates the persistent infec- 

 tion of the malady, and shows liow delay by the interposition of legal 

 obstacles may result in entailing upon an entire city the continuance of 

 a disease whicli could have been eradicated iu the start. 



As there is much difference of opinion as to the possibility of the 

 spontaneous development of glanders in stables where horses are over- 

 worked or illy kept, it seems very desirable that the General Govern- 

 ment should institute a series of experiments and investigations for the 

 purpose of determining this point. The disease is of a verj- threaten- 

 ing character to the great industries which so mucli depeiul on this 

 class of animals. As, too, it is admitted that stables which have con- 

 tained affectt'd horses, and all the harness used come to be fomites or 

 foci of communication, there is need of the most precise directions as to 

 the choice of disinfectants and their accurate and successful use. It is 

 doubtful whether this (;an be left to owners or even to the ji'eneral vet- 



