39B 
CONTAGIOUSNESS OF STRANGLES. 
By J. T. Hodgson, V.S. 
Sir, — I BEG leave to offer a few additions to the collection of 
observations on this subject in your January number, my expe- 
rience having shewn me the disease as it was entertained by Sol- 
lysel, and those who agreed with his opinions, viz. that strangles 
is contagious ; but, I am of opinion this is not the ordinary cause 
of the disease, which is, in general, the consequence of fever, from 
herding young animals; and this is the view I stated of it in a 
short paper in The VETERINARIAN about twelve years back ; and 
that we were aware at the studs in India, that it could be communi- 
cated by inoculation ; and that other young animals were also liable 
to similar kind of fever. It is not always eruptive, nor is this form 
necessary ; or to suppose that this appearance of it “ is an effort 
of nature to discharge out of the system some general disease of it.” 
It is quite enough to account for this fever, that the young animals 
are so circumstanced that there is an impossibility of the system 
continuing to carry on its various operations in a healthy manner ; 
in other words, there is an inability in the young animals to live 
any longer in the forced condition to which they are exposed ; for it 
does not attack them till they are so situated; and after the excita- 
bility is exhausted, by once having this fever, the young animals 
thrive, although again under the influence of the same exciting 
causes, without again being so liable to fever of any kind ; for, as 
in the case of older colts or adult horses that have once had this 
fever, the exciting causes must be more intense, as very foul sta- 
bles, being placed on ship-board, &c., to again produce fever: in 
common language, older horses are said to have become seasoned 
to this herded manner of living. I use the word herded, because 
this fever occurs to young animals in eastern countries that are not 
stalled, and cavalry stables for entire horses are very spacious, only 
a thatched high roof on pillars; even those with Syrian roofs are 
equally spacious and open; and under these circumstances the fever 
is in general mild, common fever. I am of opinion none escape 
having it ; but it is sometimes so mild as not to be seen, except 
sometimes in the slight effect of the tumour between the jaw bones 
having suppurated : whereas, when the fever occurs to closely- 
stalled colts, or older horses, it is a specific or malignant kind of 
fever, and then sometimes the consequences put on the character- 
istic forms of farcy and glanders. 
There is a seeming identity of these diseases, from my own ex- 
perience, the difference being, as I have stated, whether arising 
