666 
CATTLE AND HORSE INSURANCE. 
poses but not for posting, omnibuses, cabs, &c., length of life 
about fourteen years ; rate of mortality, perhaps about one in ten. 
Diseases more prevalent and more fatal in proportion as they are 
used for other purposes, consequently the rate of insurance must 
vary in a considerable degree. 
3. In carriage horses, and such as are used for riding, not being 
posters, hired horses, butchers, &c., the average length of life would 
be about fourteen years. The most prevalent diseases are nearly 
the same as the above, with the addition of catarrh, influenza, &c., 
and not above nine nor under four years. The rate 2$. 6<i., or 
thereabouts. 
4. Hunters and stallions will, I think, class with No. 3. 
9. The diseases young horses are more particularly subject to, 
are strangles, epidemics, pneumonia, pleuritis, bronchitis, colic, 
sprains, fractures, &c. 
I think the insuring of horses will be a severe blow to the vete- 
rinary practitioner, unless you enforce the employment of the 
qualified veterinarian as one of the conditions on which will rest 
the fulfilment of the policy. Many will care little what becomes 
of the horse after they have insured him to the full value, or, per- 
haps, beyond it; and the veterinarian will seldom be employed, 
unless he is necessarily a part and a portion of the procedure of 
the transaction*. 
Mr. George Holmes, of Thirsk, gives a very interesting 
account of the Horse and Cattle Insurance. He puts the affair in 
the form of question and answer. 
1. What is the average length of life among horses used for 
agricultural purposes exclusively ? — Ans. I think from 15 to 23 
years in this neighbourhood, which is a fine open tract of country. 
2. Of agricultural horses, but used occasionally for other pur- 
poses, not being for posting, omnibuses, cabs, &c.? — Ans. I reckon 
from about 12 to 18 years. 
3. Ditto, carriage horses, and such as are used for riding, not 
being posters, hired hacks, butchers’ horses, &c. ? — Ans. I think 
from about 10 to 15 years. 
4. Ditto, hunters and stallions? — Ans. I calculate from about 
12 to 20 years. 
5. Ditto, mares of the different classes ? — Ans. I imagine from 
about 18 to 25 years. 
6. What is the average rate of mortality among the different 
classes abovementioned ? — Ans. I think the proportion will be 
about 5 t 5 ^, 6§, 8, 6^, and 4-J per cent, respectively. 
* I have had frequent consultations with Mr. Shaw on this very important 
point ; and he has assured me again and again that none but qualified veteri- 
nary surgeons shall have any thing to do with cattle or horse insurances. 
This is a most important point : it is all that can be wished for. 
