CONTAGIOUS AND EPIZOOTIC DISEASES. 17 



but the disease already exists in several of the United States. 

 This ought to be rooted out by measures executed by the 

 central government and defrayed out of the public treasury. 

 Little good must be looked for from isolated action by states, 

 counties, townships, or individual owners; the danger threatens 

 the entire country, and for the general safety all must pay. 

 It is absurd to expect the unfortunate possessor of sick 

 animals to beggar himself for the public good. There should 

 be destruction of the sick, partial remuneration of the owners, 

 thorough disinfection under professional supervision, and th(ji 

 most perfect control and constant inspection of all suspected 

 herds and places until the malady has been eradicated from the 

 land. This is the most insidious of all our animal plagues, the 

 one which now most urgently presses for active interference, and 

 which if neglected, will bring a terrible retribution in the future. 

 • Inoculation, as a preventive, like medical treatment, is suicidal 

 unless where a country is very generally infected. 



: STRANGLES, DISTEMPER IN YOUNG HORSES. 



A specific fever of young solipeds usually attended with 

 swellings and formations of matter between the bones of the 

 lower jaw, or elsewhere in groups of lymphatic glands. 



Causes. — Early age, change from field to stable, from grass to 

 dry feeding, from idleness to exciting work, the irritation of teeth- 

 ing, and, above all, change of locality and climate. Repeated' 

 attacks will occur in the same horse under the influence of the 

 last named cause. Exposure to cold and wet, impure air, 

 sudden thaws, etc., contribute to hasten its development 

 lastly, contagion is a common cause, and, in some cases, the 

 malady may even be conveyed to man. 



Symptoms. — The disease is often preceded by a period of 

 unthriftiness, staring coat, loss of condition, dulness and 

 languor. Then there appear cough, redness of the nasal mem- 

 brane, and watery flow from the nose and eyes, slavering 



B 



