ON THE CAUSES OF DISEASE. 2” 
enters 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 currect. 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 they might use their influence for the purpose of direct- 
ing the attention of the General Government to the value and 
