174 



body is lessened, and the skin is loaded with germs and 

 is easily infected. The under surface of the hoof is also gener- 

 ally rotten, and the sensible tissue of hoof is thus exposed to in- 

 fection. 4. Defective stables. Farm stables are generally bad- 

 ly ventilated ; the floor is hollowed a foot deep or even more, 

 and this excavation is specially provided for the preparation of 

 stable manure, the most favorable condition for the propagation 

 of disease germs. 5. Terrulic influences. The prevalence of this 

 enzooty is closely related to meteorological and geographical 

 peculiarities. It prevails more in low marshy districts than in 

 mountainous localities. When the former is once infected, the 

 disease becomes stationary and is quickly propagated. The 

 disease may appear in all seasons, but specially prevails from 

 autumn to spring as shown in the following table (from official 

 reports) : — 



January 



291-8 



July 



37-2 



February 



326-6 



August 



59-8 



]\Iarch 



364-4 



September 



34-0 



April 



306-0 



October 



i8-o 



May 



74-8 



November 



33-0 



June 



63.0 



December 



274-8 



It prevails more in rainy years and seasons and also after 

 inundations. 



Tiie above mentioned facts indicate that this disease 

 belongs to the group of miasmatic-contagious diseases, the source 

 of infection being the ground. The infection goes on chiefly by 

 vehicles, soil, stables, stable utensils, harness, saddle, litter, 

 fodder, transitory parasites, such as Ixodes, Tabauidcs and 

 Muscides. Immediate infection from horse to horse seems rarely 

 the case. About incubation there is no exact statement. 



3. Action of Mallein on Saccharomvcosis. 



Since April, 1888, we have tried injections of emulsion of 

 bacillus mallei on Jap. farcy patients. Result was mostly negative, 



