ON THE CAUSES OF DISEASE. 27 



euters the sensitive tissues of the foot, and lameness occurs ; the 

 nail, in this event, may be classed as a special or mechanical 

 exciting cause; and, under the same head, we class poisons and 

 injuries of all sorts. 



When horses become the subjects of glanders, or farcy, by being 

 exposed to the maladies, they are then said to have taken it either 

 by infection or contagion, and the cause is said to be specific. 

 The terms infection and contagion are now used as synonymous, 

 and, undoubtedly; if reference be had to the etymology of the 

 words, the arrangement is correct. Coming now to plain matter 

 of fact, the exciting cause of disease is that which, when taken 

 into the body, or applied outwardly, is followed by disease or 

 derangement. 



The exciting causes of disease may, therefore, be summed up 

 thus : Debility, induced by bad management, exposure, unwhole- 

 some food; plethora, brought on by over-feeding and want of 

 exercise; overdosing animals with improper medicines and 

 poisons; overtaxing the muscular powers of the animal, and the 

 breathing of an impure atmosphere. 



A great proportion of the diseases occurring among horses and 

 cattle in the Western States is due to the fact that they are not 

 properly housed at night, and the food that they often gather in 

 their exposed situations lacks the nitrogenous and nutritious 

 matter for the manufacture of good, healthy blood and strong 

 muscles. 



Disease sometimes, however, occurs when no exciting nor any 

 other cause appears; yet, with the exception of those maladies 

 supposed to be produced by miasmatic influences, it is probable 

 that the cause, in such cases, has not been discovered. Finally, 

 it may be said that the causes of disease among animals are within 

 their bodies as well as around and about them. 



Veterinary Science, and the relation it bears to Social Science. — 

 The necessity which exists for the services of educated Veteri- 

 nary Surgeons throughout the United States, and in cavalry regi- 

 ments of the United States army, is evident to every thinking 

 man; yet, prior to the advent of our late national troubles, it 

 was found almost impossible to interest the right kind of men, 

 so that thev might use their influence for the purpose of direct- 

 ing the attention of the General Government to the value and 



