420 TUE HORSE. 



GLANDERS. 



Tins frightful constitutional disease appears to consist 

 in the generation of some poisonous matter in the blood, which 

 nature attempts to throw off by establishing a discharge in the 

 nostrils. It is perfectly incurable, and therefore it is only neces- 

 sary to study its symptoms, with a view to distinguish it from 

 ozena, with which alone it is liable to be confounded. Its chronic 

 character and insidious onset will serve to distinguish it from 

 catarrh and strangles* 



At its commencement, it seems to be confined to the internal 

 lining of the nostrils, which is not reddened, as in chronic catarrh 

 (ozena), but presents a leaden or purple colour, sometimes of a deep 

 shade, but at first generally very light and pale. This is accom- 

 panied by a thin acrid discharge, transparent, and without odor. 

 Generally, one nostril only is affected, which in this country is 

 more frequently the left, and in France the right ; but why this 

 should be so has never yet been even conjectured with any appear- 

 ance of probability. This state of things usually only lasts for a 

 few weeks, but it may go on for an indefinite time, and is recog- 

 nised as the first stage ; during which the health does not suffer, 

 and the horse can, and often does, go on with his ordinary work. 

 It may be distinguished from ozena by the purple color of the lin- 

 ing membrane, and by the transparency and freedom from smell 

 of the discharge. 



In the second stage, the discharge increases in quantity, and 

 though still watery and transparent, it is slightly sticky, indicating 

 the presence of mucus. The lymphatic glands below the jaw en- 



* To produce putrid disease amongst horses is an easy matter, for, by 

 neglect of the ordinary laws of health, it will soon show itself in Glanders 

 or Farcy. The blood of horses in badly-ventilated stables soon acquires toxi- 

 cal properties, from effete matter or miasma exhaled from and inhaled by 

 the lungs, or even in some cases by direct inoculation. This poison, when 

 introduced, acts as a ferment, so that the development of a peculiar train 

 of symptoms quickly follows by the operation of the principle of catalysis 

 (resolving matter into new compounds). This is the character of glanders, 

 a malignant disease, infectious and contagious. This specific blood-poison 

 is produced by placing horses and mules in conditions that depress their 

 vital powers, as badly-ventilated stables, poor food, overwork, exhaustion 

 from debilitating disease, &c. 



Many cases of glanders, since the discovery of an anti-ferment, have been 

 cured, and few cases of farcy die from it. Treatment. — Half-ounce doses 

 of the sulphite of soda three times daily, five grains powdered Spanish fly 

 once in the day, and allow good, generous diet. The soda checks the fer- 

 mentation, and the Spanish fly acts as a tonic, and at the same time removes 

 effete matter from the system. AVhen the lungs in glanders are diseased, 

 which is known when the horse has a cough, the case then is more like con- 

 sumption, and cannot be cured. It is then called equinia glandulosa, or 

 glanders with tubercles of the lungs. — Editor. 



