40 HORSES: 



LIKE CAUSES PRODUCE LIKE EFFECTS, 



and since, as I affirm, the "distemper" — influenza, 

 epizootic, pink-eye, or whatever name may be pre- 

 ferred, for it is only a question of the different stages 

 of the same filth-disease — will only attack ill-condi- 

 tioned horses ; if they are kept in condition there is 

 no occasion for alarm as to " contagion." Every 

 horse that is in really "A-i " condition is positively 

 as free from danger as though he lived in a world 

 where disease and death were unknown ! Such 

 horses, being sound and clean, require no change of 

 regimen. But if their regimen be changed by a reduc- 

 tion of outdoor work, there must be a corresponding 

 reduction of food, or they can not remain disease proof 

 Some horses and some men, though not in health, 

 are still proof against acute disorders of this type ; 

 the reason being that certain chronic "diseases," as 

 well as chronic health, are unattended by the " clog- 

 ging-up " process, which, if reaching a certain stage, 

 necessitates the restorative process popularly known 

 under the above names. All disease-producing 

 causes should cease at once, especially while the 

 "scare" is on, and measures at once taken to change 

 the condition of all doubtful animals ; viz., the fat 

 ones, and all such as have been "well fed" and not 

 well worked. In fact, no horse is well fed if given a 

 generous diet without generous exercise. The first 

 thing, as before remarked, is a fast, the extent of 

 which must be determined by the attendant or the 

 director ; but it should depend upon the degree of the 



