DISEASES PECULIAR TO BREEDING STOCK. 307 



that once in existence it can be propagated by contagion. 

 We frequently see all the young horses on a number of ad- 

 jacent farms suffering at once from this malady, while a farm 

 entirely surrounded by these, but which has had no direct 

 equine communication with them, maintains a clean bill of 

 health. But let one of the sick colts be introduced into the 

 latter, and speedily all the horses unprotected by any ante- 

 cedent attack present the unequivocal symptoms of strangles. 

 Lastly, in many different cases the malady has been conveyed 

 from horse to horse by inoculation, thus attesting in the 

 most undoubted manner the presence of contagion. We are 

 the more particular in enforcing this fact of contagion that 

 most English authors deny its existence, and thus blind their 

 readers to a most important measure of precaution. In many 

 seasons the affection assumes a uniformly mild and regular 

 form, and passing promptly through all its stages, is invari- 

 ably followed by a satisfactory recovery. In other seasons 

 it shows the greatest tendency to an irregular course to a 

 tardy and imperfect maturation of the swellings, to inflam- 

 mation and abscess in unwonted situations, and to secondary 

 formations of matter in distant and vital organs, with most 

 injurious or fatal results. If we conclude that the disease is 

 in the air, or in the system only, as English authors assert, 

 we may well decide that we can do little to hinder its ap- 

 pearance in the more fatal seasons, or to favor it in the safer 

 and milder ones. If, however, we recognize the truth that 

 the disease may be to a great extent prevented by seclusion 

 and disinfection, while its development can be secured by 

 exposure to contagion, we can protect our studs in the less 

 favorable outbreaks, and even pass them through the malady 

 in the milder ones, thus saving many lives and many more 

 cases of roaring, thick wind, chronic coughs, and other affec- 

 tions of the air passages. 



Strangles is usually preceded by a period of incubation, 

 manifested by a staring coat, loss of condition, dullness and 

 languor, with perspiration and fatigue under slight exertion. 

 These are followed by rise of the body temperature, heat and 

 clamminess of the mouth, redness of the eyes and interior of 

 the nose, and a watery distillation from both, driveling of 



