SPECIFIC INFECTIVE DISEASES 155 



modification in its severity, as there are fewer cases in 

 the present day of the mahgnant nature which prevailed 

 many years ago. It is generally accepted that the disease 

 commences in the lungs, and may exist for years in an 

 animal without the owner having the slightest suspicion 

 that he has this disease upon his premises. Time after 

 time this has happened, but since the introduction of 

 mallein as a test for the existence of glanders, it is possible 

 to diagnose the disease when it exists in its most element- 

 ary state. Had it not been for mallein during the Great 

 War there is no doubt glanders would have been very 

 prevalent amongst the horses, with all its evil conse- 

 quences. Mallein is a very rehable agent provided that 

 its use is respected. Plenty of horses are working in the 

 larger cities with this disease upon them, for the simple 

 reason that there may be no cHnical indications of the 

 disease. All horse owners are not willing to have the 

 mallein test apphed, fearing that unforeseen trouble may 

 arise. It is a notifiable disease, and if its existence is 

 suspected no time should be lost in reporting the matter 

 to the local authority, as the danger to mankind is 

 considerable, and numerous deaths have been caused 

 through glanders in the horse. Compulsory slaughter is 

 enforced by the Board of Agriculture and compensation 

 paid accordingly. It is hardly hkely that any horse 

 owner would recognise this disease, as there might be an 

 entire absence of any visible signs of its existence. In 

 typical cases there is ulceration of the mucous membrane 

 hning the nose and of a discharge from one or both 

 nostrils, but very often from one side only. In addition 

 to this, there is often a hard but painless swelling on the 

 inner side of the lower jaw, which, unhke that of strangles, 

 has very httle tendency to increase in size. In the mule 

 the discharge from the nose is brownish grey, often inter- 

 mingled with blood, and often accompanied by a peculiar 

 snuffling sound in the upper part of the nasal cavity. 

 In the disease called farcy, small bud-Hke swelHngs arise 



