730 
CATTLE AND HORSE INSURANCE. 
tainly should be guided to a considerable degree by the reply to 
the sixth question. 
Mr. J. Woodger says, 
1st. In my opinion, the average length of the life of horses used 
for agricultural purposes exclusively, aided by careful treatment, 
may be taken from 14 to 18 years. 
2d. Horses used for agriculture, and occasionally other purposes, 
excluding posting, omnibus, and cab work, &c., may be taken at 
the same average rate. 
3d. Horses for riding, and carriage horses, &c., not including 
posters, hired hacks, butchers’ horses, &c., may be estimated at 
rather a lower average rate, say from 12 to 16 years. 
4th. Hunters and stallions are a class of horses which has not 
come much under my notice ; but I should consider the average 
length of life of hunters to be under the above class. 
5th. In regard to the different classes of mares, I must confess 
my observations would not warrant me in making any considerable 
distinction (as a general rule) between the lives of mares and geld- 
ings. 
6th. The average rate of mortality amongst the above-men- 
tioned classes of horses, if I understand the question correctly, is 
all the horses that die prior to their average period of life, which I 
think may be taken from 15 to 20 per cent. 
7th. The most prevalent diseases that have occurred in my prac- 
tice are bronchitis, catarrhal fever, pleurisy, farcy, tetanus, and 
glanders. 
8th. The diseases I look to, considering the most fatal, are those 
of hydrothorax, farcy, tetanus, and glanders. 
9th. I consider young horses to be more subject to bronchitis, 
pleurisy, and inflammation of the lungs. 
10th. If there is a period in the life of the horse in which we ought 
to pay more care and attention than at others, I believe it to be a little 
previous and a little succeeding to five years of age ; for it really 
appears from observation that horses from three years old, and up to 
rising five years, will perform their physical exertions with a less 
amount of fatigue to themselves, and are less predisposed to illness, 
than they can at and about five years old (not that I would be un- 
derstood to recommend horses to perform much physical exertion at 
such an early period of life — quite the contrary), at least such has 
been the result of my observation. 
11th. At the rate per cent, we might insure the life of a horse 
depends much upon the time of life he is insured, as well as the 
nature of work he is destined to perform. 
