20 PATHOLOGY. 



great extent drained, at least one form of anthrax, namely, 

 gloss-anthrax or blain, has disappeared. Again, rot in sheep, 

 as well as other parasitic diseases, prevail to a much greater 

 extent on damp than on dry soils, and the influence of a wet 

 season, even on dry and well-drained soils, induces the develop- 

 ment of many diseases, amongst which the grouse disease 

 may he cited. 



Imperfect ventilation, to which may be added defective drainage, 

 is a fertile cause of disease ; indeed it may be stated that defective 

 ventilation is a source of greater loss to owners of horses than 

 all other causes of disease combined, particularly in large towns. 

 A deficiency of oxygen, excess of carbonic acid, and a scanty 

 supply of fresh air, stint the vital processes, and the gradual 

 accumulation of the ammoniacal products of the decomposition 

 of excrementitious matters by which animals are surrounded, are 

 almost certain excitants to diseases, particularly those of the 

 respiratory organs ; and when disease is once excited by such 

 causes, a recovery becomes almost an impossibility until the 

 sufferer is removed from their influence. It will be pointed 

 out hereafter that in the treatment of lung inflammation, pure 

 air is an absolute necessity; and if we bear in mind that impure 

 air is often a cause of this inflammation, can we wonder at the 

 fatality of diseases when animals suffering from such a disease 

 are kept under the very influences which have induced its 

 development ? Let the owners of thorough-bred stock, who peri" 

 odically suffer serious losses, reflect that, no matter how skilful 

 the treatment of such animals might be, it is futile so long as 

 the operation of causes is not taken into account. 



In large horse establishments scarcely a fresh animal arrives 

 which is not shortly laid prostrate, not so much by change of 

 locality and food, as by the direct influence of a contaminated 

 atmosphere. After a time, however, even the horse may become 

 liabituated to some extent, and present all the signs of health ; 

 but if an epizootic influence at any time prevail, an animal so 

 circumstanced is always the first and the most seriously to 

 suffer. 



With regard to the drainage of stables, I am of opinion that 

 within the buildings they should be on the surface, and that the 

 grating leading to a necessary underground drain should be some 

 feet upon the outside of the stable walls. Where drainage is 



