112 ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEING. 



GLANDERS IN MAN. 



Glanders in man is a horrible disease, capable of being* 

 inoculated from the horse when there is an abrasion of the 

 surface. Numerous cases of this kind have occurred, all of 

 which have been fatal wiien allowed to reach the stage of 

 absorption. If, however, the inoculated sore is destroyed by 

 the hot iron, or by lunar caustic or fused jjotass, there is 

 very little risk of the disease spreading ; and therefore the 

 groom who has the care of a g-landered horse, and who finds 

 a sore on his arm or hand, should ahvays consult a skillful 

 surgeon at once, and follow his advice, if he prescribes any 

 form of caustic, on the supposition that it is the disease we 

 are now considering". When it has been absorbed, there 

 seems to be little chance of a cure, though there are one or 

 two doubtful cases on record in w^hich it is said to have been 

 effected. At all events it is worth the trial, and the bin- 

 iodide of mercury holds out the best chance of a cure, in 

 doses of one-third of a grain three times a day. 



j STRAINS AND BREAKS-DOWN. 



Strains may affect either the muscles, joints, or tendons, 

 and each of these three sets of organs are constantly suf- 

 fering from them. Muscular strains consist of an absolute 

 tearing of the fibrous tissue composing the muscles, or else 

 of such an approach to a disruption as to have an equally 

 prejudicial effect in producing lameness. In some cases 

 the wiiole of a small bundle of fibres is torn across ; but 

 this is not the usual degree in which strams occur, and the 



