GLAXDEIIS.] 



THE HORSE, AND 



[glandees. 



rally rubs big nose and lips with considerable 

 force against the manger, and may thus easily 

 iaoculate himself with a glandered splinter or 

 Aail. The parts where the local farcy first 

 appears, are those most likely to be acciden- 

 tally inoculated ; namely, the inside of the 

 hocks, the knees, the shanks, the lips, and the 

 under-jaw, where grooms are often trimming 

 off the long hair with sharp-pointed scissors, 

 or singeing with a candle, and causing an 

 itching, which makes the horse rub the part 

 against the manger. In this way the heels 

 frequently become wounded. Horses that ar,? 

 kept on grains, bad hay, or any kind of bad 

 provender, are liable to itching humours, which 

 make them nab or bite their skin, and scratch 

 the hind leg with the opposite foot. We may 

 often see them bite, rub with the nose, and 

 alternately scratch with the hind foot, the other 

 leg. Even after inoculation, a month may 

 elapse before the disease makes its appear- 

 ance ; and in all experiments for the production 

 of glanders, some days, at any rate, will elapse 

 before any ulcer or chancre is produced. It 

 will be a week or two before farcy-buds or 

 corded lymphatics will appear; and in some 

 cases, probably, a month before the running 

 from the nostrils will come on, except when a 

 young ass is the subject of experiment. If we 

 reflect upon all these circumstances, there will 

 be no difficulty in admitting the following con- 

 clusions, in reference to glanders — namely: 

 That glanders ia a contagious disorder, com- 

 municable by inoculation, or by the effluvium 

 proceeding from a glandered animal, that may 

 have been kept in a stable with others, which, 

 from weaker constitutions, have greater sus- 

 ceptibility to be afiected by the disease, than 

 others of a more robust and strong constitu- 

 tion. It has been also asserted by some clever 

 veterinarians, that swallowing a quantity of 

 the matter made into balls will produce the 

 disease ; but this we never found to be the 

 case, as we have tried it in several instances, 

 both on horses and asses. In doubtful cases — 

 that is, when there is much difficulty in deter- 

 mining whether the discharge from a horse's 

 nostril is glanderous or not (and such cases 

 frequently occur) — he should be removed to a 

 stable, to remain by himself Then purchase 

 an ass, which may always be obtained for a 

 lew shillings, and inoculate him with some of 

 278 



the glandered matter. "We have generally 

 done this in the inside of the fore lew, on the 

 plate-vein ; and in two or three days, ample 

 proof will be aflbrded, in the actual condi- 

 tion of the horse, whether your judgment be 

 correct or not. We recommend this plan, 

 because a valuable horse may be preserved at 

 the expense of a iew shillings. If the matter 

 is really glanderous, a peculiar kind of sore or 

 chancre will be produced. From this ulcer, 

 corded veins, as they are termed, will proceed, 

 and farcy-buds, or small tumours, will take 

 place. In about a week the animal will run 

 at the nose, and, in a short time, take on all 

 the appearance of complete glanders. 



In such a case, the disease is always very 

 rapid, and always proves fatal. If the matter 

 is not glanderous, no effect will be produced 

 by it. In large establishments, where many 

 horses are kept, this will be found a valuable 

 test for determining with certainty the nature 

 of a discharge from the nostrils. However 

 mild the glanders may be, and although 

 ulceration of the nostrils cannot be seen, and 

 the quantity of matter that may be discharged 

 is small, and the animal appear in good health 

 and condition, the ass will be as certainly 

 affected by the matter as if the disease were 

 in the last stage, or in its most virulent degree. 



For the sake of those gentlemen and agri- 

 culturists who may reside at some considerable 

 distance from a regular veterinary surgeon, we 

 will describe the method of performing the 

 operation of inoculation. 



Cut off a little hair to the size of half-a- 

 crown, from the inside of the fore legs, where 

 you can feel the vein. We prefer this part, 

 because we have found the poison act quicker 

 when injected here than in any other place, it 

 being immediately on a large vein, which 

 renders the communication of tlie poison to 

 the system more expeditious. Then take a 

 lancet, and introduce it under the skin, for 

 about three-quarters of an inch in length. 

 The orifice must be wiped free from the few 

 drops of blood which may make their ap- 

 pearance. Have ready lint or tow that has 

 first been well impregnated wnth the glandered 

 matter, and introduce it into the opening with 

 a probe, or small slip of wood. This being 

 done, make a small wadding of tow, and place 

 over all. Apply a bandage to the part, to keep 



