50 Horses and Horsemastership. 



entitle it to be classed as essentially an equine com- 

 plaint. The opinion of many pathologists is that the 

 disease never appears spontaneously ; that, in short, it 

 is the result of contagion. It undoubtedly is a most 

 •contagious disease, but in my humble opinion it is quite 

 possible for an animal to suffer from an attack of 

 strangles who has never been exposed to even a remote 

 risk of infection. I believe that it is a means adopted 

 by nature to remedy a certain form of disordered 

 system, and, such being the case, that it does occasion- 

 ally appear of its own accord. The symptoms of 

 strangles at the commencement are similar to those of a 

 feverish cold. The horse goes off his food, is dull and 

 listless ; nasal catarrh appears, and, as the throat be- 

 comes involved, he will cough. Subsequently the glands 

 about the throat become swollen and very tender to the 

 touch ; difficulty in swallowing is apparent ; the breath- 

 ing is usually laboured, and in from a week to ten days 

 the large abscess which has been gradually forming will 

 either have burst of its own accord, or will be ripe for 

 lancing, whereupon the utmost relief is experienced, and 

 the patient rapidly becomes convalescent. If the disease 

 runs such a normal course as above indicated it is a 

 matter for congratulation ; but occasionally the attack 

 is much more severe, and the risk of suffocation, owing 

 to the tumour pressing upon the windpipe, may become 



