DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 175 



CHAPTER XII. 



DISTEMPER (STRANGLES). 



This is a disease peculiar to the horse, and it is 

 likely that it will be affected with it some time, 

 but seldom gets out of its colthood days without 

 getting it. It is therefore called "colt ill." It is 

 contagious and can be carried on the clothes of a 

 person from one barn to another. It may break 

 out in a stable and no other cases in the neighbor- 

 hood. The contagion may have been brought in 

 some unknown way, or I have no doubt but under 

 certain conditions it will develop in a colt or horse 

 that has not been exposed to the disease. A horse 

 seldom takes this disease twice, and it runs a defi- 

 nite course. It is dangerous when checked or 

 interfered with, and is successfully treated when 

 correctly guided to its natural termination. Some 

 seasons the outbreak is of a very mild character, 

 in others it may take on a malignant form and a 

 number of animals may die. There is no account- 

 ing for this. Although a good many theories have 

 been brought forward, none is satisfactory. 



Symptoms: There are signs of catarrh, the ani- 

 mal is dull, has a cough, and when it swallows 

 makes a peculiar sound in its throat. There is 

 soreness in the throat and some of the water it 

 may be drinking will come back: through its nose; 



