1008 



VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



(1) The animal population, and its rate of increase. 



(2) Eegarding the increase, we should know the propor- 

 tion of male and female births ; of premature births and 

 abortions ; also the proportion of animals which may prove 

 barren, and the deaths occurring amongst young animals 

 during their first year of life. 



(3) The amount of sickness and mortality among horses in 

 military and civil employment, grouped according to disease, 

 season, age, sex, occupation, and geographical distribution. 



(4) The mean duration of life among horses, grouped 

 according to occupation. 



(5) The principal causes of unsoundness among horses 

 grouped according to breed and occupation, showing the mean 

 age at which permanent unsoundness becomes developed. 



(6) The mean period for which useful work may be 

 expected from a horse, grouped according to occupation. 



We may say at once that we have very little information 

 on any of these points ; taking the first, ive have no know- 

 ledge of the total manher of horses in the United Kingdom ; 

 the returns furnished by the Board of Agriculture only 

 deal with horses kept for agricultural purposes, including 

 mares kept for breeding and unbroken horses. This state 

 of affairs is permitted to exist in a country which prides 

 itself on being the first horse country in the world ! 



The following table, compiled from the latest available 

 returns, gives the animal population of Great Britain and 

 the Colonies : — 



Animal Population.* 



* Agricultural Statistics, Board of Agriculture, 1903 and 1904. 

 t Returns for the year 1904. + Exclusive of Bengal. 



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