CATTLE AND HORSE INSURANCE. 665 
probably taking all classes, would not be more than one per cent, 
between them. 
6. This query I can scarcely answer, having kept no tables of 
my own experience in this matter. When we have epidemic dis- 
eases of the air-passages death may be prevalent — at other times 
they may be scarce ; and, looking back through the last year, I can 
scarcely remember more than three or four from previous illness ; 
but several have been killed by accidents. I have recommended 
others to be destroyed, as not worth the attempt at cure ; and three 
or four have dropped dead from old organic complaints and ruptures 
caused thereby. I should not think the average of deaths in the 
classes mentioned would exceed from two to three per cent, per 
annum, and certainly not the latter, exclusive of horses killed by 
accident. I am speaking of our own district, which is entirely an 
agricultural one, but there are many gentlemen’s seats in the neigh- 
bourhood, where carriage -horses, hunters, and hacks are kept. 
7. The most prevalent diseases are inflammatory attacks of the 
mucous membrane lining the throat and air-passages, which, when 
epizootic, are called distemper, and strangles among the colts. 
8. The most fatal diseases are inflammation of the bowels, teta- 
nus, inflammation of the lungs, apoplexy or paralysis, or both con- 
joined, and, of course, glanders, when it gets into a stud. 
9. Strangles, and also to distemper, more than old horses; also 
liable to some local diseases that would diminish their value, but 
not endanger their lives. 
10. There are three risks that colts are liable to before coming 
into work, — strangles, castration, and breaking; but these are not 
great if properly attended to — perhaps, however, sufficiently so to 
make some condition in the insurance. Old horses, horses from 
fourteen to sixteen years old, occasionally get internal chronic dis- 
ease — not obvious, perhaps, until the animal dies suddenly, or with 
a very short illness. This should be considered in the insurance. 
11. I have never troubled myself with regard to calculations of 
this kind. 
Mr. Hayes, of Rochdale, stands next on the list. 
1. In horses used for agriculture the average length of life will 
be about eighteen years, mares a little less. Rate of mortality, 
one in fourteen ; mares one in ten or twelve. The most prevalent 
diseases are flatulent colic, pneumonia, pleuritis, enteritis, acute 
indigestion, broken wind, and chronic cough. I think you ought 
not to insure them under three or above twelve years of age : the 
rate might be from Is. 6d to 2s. in the £1 per annum on the fixed 
value of the horse. The most fatal diseases are acute indigestion, 
enteritis, with inflammation of the lungs and pleura. 
2. Horses used for agriculture, and occasionally for other pur- 
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