XXVIII. 

 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



A contagions disease may be defined as one induced by the 

 operation of a specific vinis termed a poison, wliicli is conveyed 

 by contact into the system of a healthy animal, producing' a con- 

 dition identical with that of the body from which it originated. 



An infectious disease is one which has the power of spreading 

 itself by diffusion of the specific material through the air, and is 

 not transmitted by actual contact with the diseased animal. 



GLANDERS AND FARCY. 



Glanders may be defined to be a malignant disease, contagious, 

 and due to the introduction into the system, or of generation 

 within it, of a specific virus, the bacillus mallei. They show their 

 specific effect principally upon the Schneiderian membrane, but 

 traces of the poisoti may be seen in the lungs and lymphatic 

 glands. It is communicated to all animals except cattle and pigs. 

 When it occurs in man it seems to increase in intensity and 

 malignancy. Some veterinarians claim that it originates by 

 contagion only, while others claim it is capable of spontaneous 

 origin. I am inclined to believe that it originates spontaneously. 

 Glanders may occur in four forms — namely: Acute glanders, 

 chronic glanders, acute farcy, and chronic farcy. It arises from 

 debilitating influences, such as exhausting diseases, overwork, 

 bad food, and bad ventilation. 



Glanders and farcy are one and the same disease. The virus 

 is identical in both forms of the disease. The discharge from the 

 nose of a glandered horse when introduced into the system of 

 other horses may in one produce glanders and in another farcy; 

 while the pus from a farcy ulcer may produce in the inoculated 

 animal glanders, farcy, or both. 



( 3;?5 ) 



