Among Horses in India. 51 



be kept in a shed away from the reflected glare of the sun, 

 and where the air can circulate with perfect freedom. He 

 should have pure fresh water constantly within reach, and 

 should be fed only upon bran mashes and green grass or 

 lucern. If possible give plenty of the latter; but on no 

 account allow grain or linseed. 



Glanders. 



Glanders is stated by some veterinary authors of good 

 repute to be unknown in tropical countries. It exists in a 

 most virulent form in India, and is diffused over districts 

 hundreds of miles apart. I have known it brought to a 

 station by an Australian remount in the days when those 

 animals used to be sent from Calcutta to their regiments 

 directly after disembarkation. The disease is said not to 

 exist in Australia. If this is a fact, the horses must catch it 

 in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, where it is almost invari- 

 ably present. 



Glanders is usually introduced into a regiment now, either 

 by the troopers of native cavalry soldiers, which accompany 

 their owners when on furlough, or else by grass-cutters' 

 ponies. These stroll about loose, while the grass-cutters are 

 collecting their loads, and come in contact with diseased 

 village ponies. It is quite possible also that the latter whilst 

 grazing may infect bunches of grass which are subsequently 

 cut and added to the bundles brought to the cantonments. 



How Spread. 



There are many circumstances in India which cause the 

 disease to spread more readily, and which make it more 

 difficult to eradicate than in the British Islands. 



1. The natives of India can scarcely be made either to 

 believe in the dangerous character of glanders, or to take 

 ordinary precautions for preventing its spreading. They are 

 therefore liable to carry the virus on their hands or clothes 

 or horse-gear, and unless prevented will allow healthy animals 

 to graze side by side with diseased. They also leave the 



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