THE HISTORY OF GLANDERS. 
709 
the same fluid, he may probably experience from it deleterious 
effects. Aloes itself is a poison exhibited in large doses. Another 
proof of the blood being diseased, is, that syphilitic infection will 
frequently create disease in the throat : how could the poison get 
there but through the medium of absorption and circulation] Be 
this explicable however as it may, we have proved the fact beyond 
all doubt and dispute by the test of direct experiment.” 
“ Glanders is not so prevalent in the summer as in the winter 
season ; and it has, in several instances, been known to be epizootic, 
particularly when horses brought from camp or other external 
situations have been returned into warm and unventilated quarters. 
If precautions were taken to properly ventilate stables, the disease 
might be altogether eradicated. In further proof of the disease 
originating without contagion, we have instances of glanders break- 
ing out among horses that have been embarked in a perfectly 
healthy condition on board of ships entirely new. In the expedi- 
tion to Quiberon, the horses had not been long on board of the 
transports before it became necessary to shut down the hatchways : 
the consequences of this were, that the horses were almost suf- 
focated with heat, and that almost all of them disembarked either 
glandered or farcied. The malady which broke out among the 
men engaged in the Walcheren expedition attacked almost all of 
them, hence it was considered to be a contagious disease ; after- 
wards, however, it proved not to be, nor was this assumption 
required to explain its endemic character, for they all (if the ex- 
pression may be allowed) ate it, they all drank it, and they all 
breathed it. It is for want of reflection upon these points that 
people are so often differing about the contagious and non-conta- 
gious nature of diseases. It has been observed, that glanders is 
mostly present where grease is prevalent ; indeed, this fact led 
Sainbel to say, that grease was a cause of glanders : but, in 
truth, it is no more a cause than dung and urine are causes; it is 
simply operating as another source of atmospherical impurity. 
Under such circumstances, the fetor of grease will predominate, as 
the stench of a goat will, over the effluvia arising from the excre- 
tions and secretions ; and it was the observance of this fact probably 
that gave origin to the vulgar notion of the salutary influence of 
goats kept in stables.” 
“ The acute glanders is the same disease, in regard to the nature 
of the poison, as farcy and chronic glanders ; I am, however, not 
so confirmed in my opinion concerning the affinity of the last as 
in respect to farcy. Acute glanders hardly ever proves fatal 
without farcy making its appearance before death : on the other 
hand, farcy rarely or never of itself puts an end to life, it being 
VOL. XVII. * 5 B 
