FROM THE HORSE TO THE HUMAN BEING. 
573 
to the human subject is not sufficiently diffused. Many horse pro- 
prietors, ignorant, or pretending ignorance, of a fact that has been 
demonstrated by so many sad proofs, continue to use glandered 
horses, and thus daily expose the persons entrusted with the care 
of them to the danger of contagion. 
Numerous veterinary surgeons, either from scepticism or from 
that excessive hardihood not unfrequently evinced by those who, 
not knowing what the danger is, cannot consequently form any idea 
of its magnitude, in the practice of their profession neglect even 
the most simple hygienic precautions, and seem voluntarily to ex- 
pose themselves to the dangers of that contagion of which no doubt 
can now be entertained. 
This want of faith in the propagative power of a scourge from 
which, until of late years, the human species appeared to have 
been exempt, is likely to be attended with the most serious con- 
sequences to the public. Hence it has appeared to us to be our 
duty to endeavour, as far as lies in our power, to diffuse the con- 
viction which is firmly established in our minds, that the transmis- 
sibility of glanders from the horse to the human being is not only 
possible but easy. 
It is with this view that we present to our readers a paper 
written by Dr. Marchant, one of our contributors, on farcy and 
glanders in the human being. The position of this gentleman, 
and the circumstance of his being frequently called on to assist 
the chief surgeon of the school, have enabled him to study this dis- 
ease as it appeared in the three unfortunate young men who lately 
fell victims to it. 
Possessed of the evidence of facts now before us, we do not 
hesitate to assert, that all veterinary surgeons who neglect to warn 
their employers, and all horse proprietors, of the danger of keep- 
ing and working glandered horses, neglect a most vital part of 
their vocation ; — that all who, from a spirit of indifference or false 
tolerance which nothing can excuse, fail to see that every sanatory 
measure prescribed by laws, acts, or ordinances, is rigorously 
carried into effect, are wanting in one of the most important duties 
of their profession. It is not now simply the property of indi- 
viduals which is compromised by a neglect of these measures, but 
the general health of our fellow-creatures. This consideration ought 
to predominate over every other; for, in cases where human life is 
thus perilled, an act of tolerance is equivalent to murder. 
The following is the course of conduct now pursued by us. 
Every glandered horse which is brought to the school, whether 
for treatment or consultation, is kept there. If the owners insist 
upon having it back, we require an order from the Mayor of the 
district before we will give it up ; and in no one instance have we 
VOL. XVIII. 4 I 
