90 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



and commencing as the hermetically sealed earth begins 

 to open its pores, to the rain and sunshine of spring. 

 May there not be deleterious emanations from the earth, 

 or at least after great frost or snow, is there not during 

 the process of thawing a colder air or gas given forth 

 from the thawing process, than the animal is breathing, 

 a few feet higher up from the ground ? This is one of 

 the points entering into the celebrated controversy 

 between myself, and the distinguished Professor, R. E. 

 Rogers, of the University of Pennsylvania, on the salt 

 and slush question, a few years ago, whether it was, or 

 was not injurious to the health of man or horse, to 

 sprinkle salt upon the track, to thaw the snow from 

 them. If my argument did not prevent further use of 

 the salt upon the track, it did one good, by making it 

 obligatory for the railway companies, to keep all gut- 

 ters and inlets clear, to allow the slush to escape at once 

 from the street. So I think it is clearly established, that 

 the cold emanation from the soil, during the process of 

 thawing or breaking up of winter, are great and exci- 

 ting causes, not only of this disease, but of many others 

 in both man and beast, and which have hitherto been 

 called atmospheric. And in connection with this con- 

 dition, we have in horses at least, a want of their usual 

 protection, for with the warm sun of spring, the animal 

 throws of his hairy coat, thus as it were unnecessarily 

 exposing himself to these insidious causes of disease. 



Treatment. — When cases of this and other diseases of 

 the same type (gastritis mucosa) first came under my care, 

 I treated upon different principles and with different me- 

 dicines than what is here recommended ; I look back with 

 extreme dissatisfaction on the false doctrines and false 

 teachings of the book and the schools which have led 



