VETERINARY NOTES. 



DISEASE. 



It is difficult to give a definition of either disease or health. They are 

 closely united, and it is difficult to draw the line of demarcation. First 

 I ask, what is disease ? We may consider it to consist of a deterioration 

 from a healthy standard, either of function or structure ; or we may say 

 it is just the opposite of health, or a disturbance of the function or 

 structure of a healthy organism. Health is a condition of the animal 

 body, in which all the organs are in good condition, and all the functions 

 are performed in good order ; and it is difficult ta get a body in perfect 

 health. There is generally some little deterioration of structure or func- 

 tion. You may look at a horse ; he does work in a regular manner, and 

 he is considered healthy, but there may be some change in some way, so 

 that it is quite difficult to give a precise definition. There is health 

 where all the organs are intact, and each one capable of discharging its 

 respective duty or function. From health to disease there are certain 

 transitions noticed. If animals are kept in their natural state they are 

 free from disease to a certain extent, but when they become domesticated, 

 then a change takes place in the system. They do not receive a regular 

 supply of pure air, pure water, regular exercise, etc., then this change 

 takes place to a certain extent. All these things must be attended to in 

 order to keep the animals or men in good health. We meet with various 

 terms in the study of disease, as 



Pathology, which is derived from two Greek words, and means a dis- 

 course on disease, or the doctrine of disease, and includes all the various 

 particulars in connection with disease Pathology may be divided into 

 two divisions, general and special. General pathology considers disease 

 in common, the various branches, causes, symptoms, etc., while special 

 considers each disease in particular. In all diseases there are certain 

 changes that take place in connection with them. It is a very impor- 

 tant branch of study. 



Etiology, or the causes of diseases. This is also important. It may 

 be arranged under different heads ; there are predisposing and exciting 

 causes. There is almost always a cause for every disease, but it is some- 

 times difficult to tell just what the cause is. If y u can find and remove 

 the cause, the case is, as a general thing, easily treated. Etiology, 

 though plain in some cases, is obscure in others. A disease breaking 

 out and spreading over a large territory is an epizootic disease ; and it 

 is difficult to say what is the exact or exciting cause. Another impor- 

 tant branch of pathology is the symptoms, or 



Symptomatology , or study of the symptoms of disease ; or the means 

 by which disease is recognized from the symptoms presented by the 

 organ or organs diseased. The symptoms may be general or local. 

 There are in the limbs certain local symptoms, iDut the cause may be 

 such that it will produce general symptoms. It is further divided into 

 primary and premonitory. In laminitis, we sometimes notice the horse 

 exhibiting premonitory symptoms, and, after some time, well marked 



