DISEASED AND DEFECTIVE HORSES. 3tJ0 



Gland f red Horses often work for years after they are in- 

 curably diseased. Tliey require to be well fed, well lodged, 

 and well groomed. So far as my experience has gone, med- 

 icine of all kinds is entirely thrown away upon them. 



When the disease appears in a sound stud, the horse 

 should be destroyed, or at least removed without delay. It 

 is possible he may recover ; and, if he can be kept where he 

 can do no harm, he may have a trial. If permitted to remain, 

 he is just as likely to give the disease to every horse in the 

 stable, as to get better himself. It is generally supposed 

 that glanders can not be communicated without actual appli- 

 cation of the matter. This is not certain. I am pretty sure 

 that, in som.e forms, it will spread through the air. It is 

 prudent to suspect and to watch every horse that has breathed 

 under the same roof with a glandered one. 



When several are diseased, it may be worth while keeping 

 them. They may be all put to one road, and kept in stables 

 apart from the others ; having men, harness, pole, and pole- 

 chains, entirely to themselves. When it can be managed, 

 they should not even enter the stable-yard where there are 

 sound horses, and the men should be carefully excluded from 

 every stable but their own. 



When the horses die off, so that sufficient are not left to do 

 the work, their place may be supplied by others, sound, but 

 of little value. In this way, however, the disease is kept up. 

 It is better to destroy the few that remain. Let the stalls, 

 every portion of the stables, from floor to roof, both inclusive, 

 be well washed with soap or sand and water. Let the wood- 

 work be scraped or planed, and ragged portions chipped quite 

 out. If the mangers and racks be of wood, and much wasted, 

 remove them altogether, and replace them by others of iron. 

 After washing, give all the stone or brick a coat of hot lime- 

 water. Till all this is well and completely done, no sound 

 horse should enter the stable ; and even after it is done, the 

 stable should stand empty for a week or two. 



Sickness. — This word is usually applied to all dangerous 

 or febrile diseases, all in which the horse is dull, pained, and 

 without appetite. The stable-management of these must vary 

 according to the nature of the illness. Directions are given 

 by the medical attendant, as to diet, drink, ventilation, cloth- 

 ing, exercise, and other matters likely to exert any influence 

 upon the disease. In general, bran-mashes, carrots, green 

 food, and hay, form the sick horse's diet ; gruel, or tepid 

 water, his drink. Whatever be the surgeon's orders, they 



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