130 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



and sometimes in the second of these, does the disease admit 

 of a cure at all; but, unfortunately, it is most frequently 

 overlooked, or else entirely misunderstood, until it is too 

 late. It is only when the scourge assumes its most malig- 

 nant type that the owner or keeper becomes aware of its 

 existence; and even then he is too often unwilling to ac- 

 knowledge its presence, until forced to do so by the spread 

 of the contagion, and other signs too plain to be disregarded. 



Happily, this pest of European countries — this curse of 

 English stables — seldom occurs in our rural districts. In 

 this country it is almost exclusively confined to cities, with 

 their crowded stables, and large numbers of horses herded 

 together. 



In tracing the history of any considerable number of cases, 

 infection will be found at the root of the trouble much more 

 frequently than any other circumstance. But there are sev- 

 eral causes which may generate the disease, where contagion 

 has never been possible. In such cases it is invariably the 

 offspring of filth and mismanagement. The hot-beds where 

 it usually develops itself, and best thrives, are our cavalry 

 corrals, and other places where large droves of horses are 

 crowded together, close and ill- ventilated stables, and those 

 in low and damp situations. Among the many causes of 

 glanders, however, none are so fruitful as impure air, and 

 unwholesome food and water — of all which the horse is 

 likely to get the most in the places we have named. Any 

 one of these may be sufficient, at times, to give existence to 

 this terrible disease ; yet, after all, the majority of cases are 

 undoubtedly the result of infection communicated from one 

 horse to another. 



The opportunities for infection are always very great. In 

 large stables, where strange horses are constantly coming 

 and going, it is a wonder that it occurs no oftener than it 

 does. The degree of exemption which they enjoy can only 

 be attributed to their greatly improved construction and man- 

 agement. The ventilation, good order, and cleanliness which 

 characterize the large majority of them are truly commend- 



