204 T/te Causes of Disease, 



use of nitre (saltpetre) is frequently attended 

 with baneful results. The lowering and cooling 

 properties of this salt are such that when it is 

 supposed that one disease is driven out, the animal 

 is not unlikely to be affected with sore throats, 

 coughs, and colds. 



When horses are treated properly, then exists 

 a state which we call health. That word means 

 more than is usually ascribed to it, and signifies 

 that condition which admits of no improvement. 

 Of what use then are the medicines so commonly 

 and constantly used to nauseate and interfere 

 with the animal functions ? Such things cannot 

 be administered without producing a disturbance 

 in the system. That disturbance is not unlike 

 disease, and is used by the medical man to over- 

 come, as it were, any unhealthy condition \vhich 

 he may be called upon to eradicate. 



Into no greater mistake can owners and stable- 

 men fall than to suppose it is consistent with 

 reason to drug an animal in health, or that medi- 

 cines given regularly prevent disease. The 

 reverse is frequently the result. But tell sr.ch 

 people that disease is always, or nearly always, 

 the result of mismanagement, neglect, or want of 

 forethought and knowledge, they would laugh in 

 derision. "We do know how to manage/" say 

 they ; " give us information how to cure" Such 

 was the statement of an individual a short time 

 ago. He had boasted how he managed, of his 

 profits, and how he kept his animals in health, 



