30 



HORSES 



CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS 

 DISEASES 



Glanders is one of the most insidious 

 diseases of the horse, manifesting itself by 

 a discharge from the nostrils or small sores 

 appearing as a rule on the hind legs. Some- 

 times we find these small boils appearing 

 on the body, breaking and discharging a 

 thin sticky material which, like the dis- 

 charges from the nostrils, seems to catch 

 and hold the dirt, "gumming of the parts," 

 as expressed by those with experience. A 

 good many owners are always fearful that 

 a discharge from the nostril is due to glan- 

 ders. As a matter of fact in glanders the 

 discharge is very slight and many times 

 overlooked, or, as the owner says, animal 

 has just a little cold; meaning he gauges 

 the extent of a cold by the discharge: if 

 very great, then it has a bad cold, if slight, 

 a little cold. 



A horse may discharge from a variety of 

 causes, such as a sore throat, in which case 

 it is profuse; as a result of distemper, a dis- 

 eased tooth, in which case a l)ad odor exists. 



In glanders it is again repeated, the dis- 

 charge being slight, sometimes in advanced 

 cases is accompanied by a hemorrhage. 

 Any profuse hemorrhage from the nostrils 

 should be looked upon with suspicion and 

 prom])tly reported to the state authorities. 



Navel or Joint 111 in foals is an infec- 

 tious disease and causes the death of many 

 foals. It is commonly supposed the infec- 

 tion is taken up through the navel, ra]>idly 

 extending to the liver and thence getting 



into the circulation, where the organisms 

 are carried to the joints. The result is that 

 the joints become swollen and filled with 

 a chocolate colored, reddish brown fluid. 

 The colt refuses to feed and remains 

 down unable to rise. Vaccination by a 

 veterinarian affords a remedy. 



Here again prevention plays a prominent 

 part. Mares before foaling should be 

 given clean quarters which must be kept 

 clean. Immediately colt is born an anti- 

 septic dressing should be applied to the 

 navel and kept in place by a bandage. 



TETANUS OR LOCK-JAW 



A disease seen more frequently in 

 horses than in any other animal. In some 

 horse barns where the disease is prevalent 

 the slightest injury to any part of the body 

 may result in lockjaw. The germ causing 

 this disease seems to enjoy life for a long 

 period of time in old barns, and it is a 

 fact horse manure and dirt are its favorite 

 lurking places. 



The symptoms first observed are a stiff- 

 ness of the neck; to use an old expression 

 the animal stands with its nose "poked 

 out." The tail is noticed to be elevated a 

 little; elevating the head causes the eye to 

 retract and as the disease advances we see 

 violent spasms. 



Animal should be immediately placed in 

 roomy quarters by itself and the services 

 of an expert veterinarian called. 



The use of tetanic serum in the initial 

 form gives fairly favorable results. 



CHAMPION ENGLISH SHIRE STALLION "DAN PATCH," A FOUR-TIME PRIZE WINNER. 



Truman's Stock Farm, Bushnt'll, 111. 

 The SHIRE breed of draft horses come from Eiujland and for heary draft it is unsurpassed. Stallions range from 1700 lbs to 

 the great size of 2M0lbs., the heightrunning from 15 to 17 hands, 7nares less accordinghj. Preferred color is ban or brown icith while 

 forehead and on legs. Nuintruus cheslnnls, blacks and grays are found ami long hair below knees ami hocks is characteristic. 



