44 TERMINATIONS OF INFLAMMATION. 



by no means uncommon to find aged animals take the disease. 

 In some localities, and during some years, it assumes the form 

 of an enzootic, attacking animals of all ages. 



It is an unsettled question whether horses take strangles 

 more than once in their lives, and the point is not easily solved, 

 as the history of animals is hard to trace. I think it may be 

 laid down as a rule that it rarely attacks the same horse more 

 than once, after which the predisposition to it disappears. 



The causes of strangles are very obscure. It is thought 

 that dentition has something to do with it ; and this may be 

 accepted as a tangible reason, as the majority of cases occur 

 during the active period of dentition. But it by no means 

 follows that this is the only predisposing cause, for animals with 

 fuU mouths are very often attacked with strangles. Domesti- 

 cation has also been looked upon as the cause of strangles ; but 

 this cannot be, otherwise animals that have never been stabled 

 would not suffer, whereas horses at grass very often have it. 



Horses from a few months to six years old are the common 

 subjects of strangles. When they are very young, the disease 

 generally assumes a virulent form, and often proves fatal, either 

 from iuternal abscesses, purulent infiltrations, or a condition 

 similar to the hectic fever of human beings. 



Symptoms. — Strangles manifests itself in three ways. 



1st. It commences with the common symptoms of a mild 

 catarrhal affection. The animal is somewliat duU, has a slight 

 cough, some soreness of throat, a disinclination to feed, and 

 more or less inability to swallow. The submaxillary space 

 swells, is hot and tender, the swelling filling up the whole 

 space or confined to one side only ; and is either diffused or 

 circumscribed. There is generally some dribbling of saliva from 

 the mouth, and a discharge from the nostrils. In most instances 

 the pulse is somewhat hurried, and the respiratory movements 

 slightly increased. 



2d. For some weeks, or even months, prior to the local 

 manifestation of the disease, the animal is unthrifty, loses flesh, 

 becomes hide-bound, drawn up at the flank ; if at grass, stands 

 apart from his fellows, has more or less cough, often stretches 

 himself as if fatigued, shivers on the application of slight cold, 

 his coat stares, his growth is arrested. The horseman says that 

 " he is breeding strangles," and time confirms the correctness* 



