THE DEALER'S HORSE 79 



bacteria on, and partly embedded in, the 

 tissues would so injure the tissues, if locally 

 applied, as to actually lower their resisting 

 powers. If possible, the enemy must always 

 be prevented from effecting a landing. But 

 if he does land, as he is sure to do in the 

 case of horses kept in the dark, dirty stalls of 

 the average dealer, then our difficulties and 

 the dangers to our territories are enormously 

 increased, and if the horses' resisting powers 

 are at the same time lowered, as no anti- 

 serum has yet been perfected, I fear in our 

 present state of knowledge coughing and 

 fever — which really means a fight in the 

 blood — must follow. I can only say what I 

 do when a new horse comes under my 

 control from any other stall — and I am extra 

 particular in the case of horses which have 

 been in show-yards, or yearling sale-ring 

 stables. Immediately on his arrival home 

 the horse gets a hot bran mash, with plenty 

 of hot boiled linseed mixed through it. His 

 throat and lungs are then fumigated by the 

 burning of a disinfectant. This operation is 

 carried out as follows : The horse is led into 

 a box by his attendant ; the box is closed up, 

 and another attendant brings into the stable 



