84 THE farmer's veterinarian 



source of trouble is due to mechanical causes: 

 horses get nail punctures, legs and necks and head 

 are cut in fences, blows bring bruises. But whose 

 fault? Certainly not the animal. Old boards with 

 nails ought not to be left in all sorts of places, 

 fences should be protected, and stable fixtures, 

 gates and harnesses should be in such order that 

 only in rare cases will injury result. 



Disease from Chemical Causes. — Poisonous ma- 

 terials and poisonous plants cause death to thou- 

 sands of animals annually. Of great importance to 

 the stock interests is the rapid destruction of these 

 harmful products. Fortunately in the older sec- 

 tions these are about eliminated now, and we are 

 also understanding more about the molds that lead 

 to bad results when moldy forage is given as feed 

 to farm animals. In time disease will be consider- 

 ably lessened when only clean, wholesome food 

 finds its way into the mangers and feed racks — 

 then disease will depart and more rapid gains will 

 come. 



Heredity Plays a Part. — Despite caution and 

 care, health is often disturbed because of hereditary 

 influences. Thanks to science, we know now that 

 many of the old bugbears of the past, and once so 

 entrenched, have become dislodged, and their true 

 import set right before the owner. Tuberculosis, 

 for instance, once so dreaded in both man and 

 beast, is now known not to be handed down from 

 parent to progeny; it is a germ disease, pure and 

 simple, and gets its start Just as many other ail- 

 ments — through breath, or drink, or feed. There 

 are hereditary troubles, however, that continue 

 down through many generations. The narrow hock 

 of the horse invites curb diseases; the narrow 

 chest is a good breeding ground for tuberculosis 



