Contagious Pneumonia in the Horse. 109 



indisposition of the infection to spread beyond the stable into 

 which it has been brought, or the near vicinity of the diseased 

 animal, gives us a great relative advantage. The early, extreme 

 rise of temperature of the infected horses gives the opportunity 

 of removing these horses to a special stable or shed, where they 

 can have special attendants, and the stable drainage and manure 

 can be kept apart, and disinfected, or spread and plowed under 

 by oxen. The infected stable should be emptied, the soiled hay, 

 litter and manure burned, and the walls, partitions, floors, ceil- 

 ings, and above all the mangers and racks must be thoroughly 

 disinfected. I^ime wash with chloride of lime or mercuric 

 chloride will suffice. The gutters should be cleaned, washed and 

 drenched with mercuric chloride, followed by the whitewash. 

 If there is rotten wood work or filth-saturated soil these must be 

 effectually treated. In many stables it will be impossible to do 

 all this thoroughly, yet closing the empty building tightly, and 

 filling it with chlorine gas, or even sulphur fumes, concentrated 

 until they extinguish the burning sulphur, and keeping shut up 

 for twenty-four hours will usually suffice. Washing with a solu- 

 tion of formalin (1:40 or i per cent of formaldehyd), or even 

 the evaporation of this agent by heat in the closed building is 

 very effective, with the serious drawback that it is very irritating 

 to the lungs. It can however be conveniently used for the 

 sterilization of harness, stable implements, halters, and all 

 movable objects in the building. 



Strange horses, such as new purchases, should be placed in 

 quarantine for one week in a separate stable, and not hitched up 

 with sound horses. If they show evidence of recent illness this 

 may be extended to six weeks. 



For horses that have been shipped long distances, and stopped 

 for rest or feeding in public stables or yards, a similar quarantine 

 is essential. This might be obviated if a system of thorough dis- 

 infection of such stables, yards and cars, could be enforced, be- 

 tween any two successive lots of hor,ses, and if the latter were 

 accompanied by certificates of the absence of contagious pneumo- 

 nia and all other infectious diseases from the localities from which 

 they were shipped and through which they had come. Such cer- 

 tificates should be made by veterinary officials in the employ of 

 the government, which would thus become responsible for their 

 genuineness. 



