THE HORSE. 1G3 



ally acquainted with the pathological processes of glanders, he could 

 not have fallen into. 



Glanders is not characterized by destructive processes, as we 

 understand them in pathology. 



In general, the processes of glanders have more of a formative 

 than destructive character. The tubercles of glanders seldom form 

 secondary tubercles in the immediate vicinity, but are generally iso- 

 lated neoplastic growths. Even in the mucous membrane of the 

 nose, the destructive processes are far exceeded by the formative, 

 and the permanent cicatrization of the ulcers of glanders is no rare 

 occurrence. 



" Acute glanders has been occasionally supposed to be merely 

 the expression of purulent infection in the equine species, from 

 the frc(juency with which it has been observed to follow severe 

 operations, purulent fevers, or inflamed blood-vessels." 



Glanders is in no sense of the word a purulent infection, and 

 when it appears under any of the above circumstances it was either 

 present in a latent form anticipatory to their occurrence, and they 

 acted as the causa su^'eiens to the visible outbreak of the disease, 

 or the animal acquired it after either of the above conditions were 

 produced. 



'• The highest Continental authorities, and those who have most 

 attentively studied the etiology of the afifection, afe ahsoluUly unani- 

 mous in their opinion as to its being at times directly developed 

 and without contagion having anything to do with it." 



It is surprising that a man of ^[r. Fleming's erudition could write 

 such as the above, for, in 18G8, long before his book appeared^ 

 Gerlach, no second-rate authority, had come out absolutely for the 

 strictly contagious nature of glanders ; and his opinion had been 

 adopted by the most eminent Germans at the time of Mr. Fleming's 

 publication. 



An equally fallacious opinion is, that " it appears among horses 

 when unduly exposed, poorly fed or watered, etc., as in the army 

 at times, or where hygienic measures are neglected, and the laws of 

 health ignored ; or in large towns, or in large establishments, if the 

 horses are suddenly called upon to undergo severe exertion during 

 bad weather and upon an insuflScient allowance of food or forage 

 of an unsuitable character." 



Were this so, then nearly, if not more than, half of the work- 

 horses among the p<jorer class of horse-owners would have the dis- 

 ease. Neither faulty ventilation nor the most arrogantly absurd non- 

 hygienic condition can ever produce of itself, or themselves, glanders. 



