Diseases of the Horse. 139 



CHAPTER X. 

 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



General observations — Disease — Definitions — Pathology — Fever ; simple 

 symptomatic, and specific — Inflammation — Abscess — Serous Cyst — Classi- 

 fication of Disease— Prevention of Disease — Sending for the Veterinary 

 Surgeon. 



The well being of mankind is acknowledged to he 

 largely dependent upon the health and soundness of con- 

 stitution of our domestic animals. As the flesh of cattle, 

 sheep, and swine, forms the great proportion of human 

 food, it is obvious that only those animals known to be 

 in perfect health should be slaughtered for that purpose. 

 But all our domestic animals exert an influence more or 

 less detrimental to the public health, altogether apart from 

 the consumption of their flesh as food. This division of 

 the subject claims our attention at the present time, as 

 equine animals, especially, are liable to contract diseases 

 which are not only transmissible to mankind, but certain 

 forms of which prove malignant and speedily fatal. In 

 order, therefore, to secure the safety of the human popu- 

 lation, it is imperative that the creatures under constant 

 use should possess a uniform standard of health. 



The value of sound constitution, as creating and main- 

 taining an aptitude for meeting the daily requirements of 

 toil, or work, in its various degrees of intensity and con- 

 tinuance, is so apparent that we need not discuss the 

 subject here.* 



The horse, possessing remarkable qualifications for 

 service under man, naturally engrosses much attention. 

 He also ranks high in commercial value, and on that 

 account alone stimulates interest in his preservation. 

 There is a nobility in his character, combined with a 



* This is amply treated by the Author in his little manual, "How 

 to Feed the Horse." London and New York : F. Warne & Co. 

 Price One Shilling. 



