458 
GLANDERS. 
It is easy to see that the pathological state of the digestive 
canal had continued for a considerable period ; this was proved 
by the intermittent colic, and the gradual loss of condition. 
Later, the visceral disorganization interfered with the exercise of 
some of the principal functions, and hence arose the morbid 
sympathy which was the exciting cause of tetanus; wherefore, 
then, shall we not attribute to the same cause the disorganiza- 
tion of the nasal membrane ? 
The general causes of glanders, in my opinion, are— 
IsL The living in stables badly ventilated, low, and dirty. 
Deleterious emanations, which the animal is obliged to breathe, 
and which irritate the respiratory passages, and predispose them 
to be affected with glanders from the slightest occasional causes. 
2 d. The sequelae of irritation ; not only those just hinted at, 
but also produced by sudden alternation from cold to heat. In 
this case, if the inflammation attacks the pituitary membrane, it 
soon loses its acute character, and passes into a sub-inflamma¬ 
tory state, disorganizing more or less slowly the tissue which it 
attacks. On the other hand, if the inflammation affects the 
mucous membrane of the bronchi, the irritation at length reaches 
the nasal membrane by extending along the continuous surface, 
and produces glanders, and which, thus produced, is always in¬ 
curable. 
3d. When over-work or insufficient or bad food have reduced 
the animal economy to a state of complete decay, we see a slight 
nasal discharge first produced, and which progressively increases 
in proportion as the exciting cause acquires greater power, or 
the animal, by his natural organization, is disposed to be acted 
upon by its fatal influence. 
Journal Theor. et Pratique , 1833, p. 14. 
We translate this paper because it contains two important 
facts; because, also, it gives us a glimpse of the notions generally 
entertained by our continental brethren on the subject of glan¬ 
ders; and, lastly, because it is a curious illustration of the folly 
of theorizing on a few facts, and of the facility with which many 
a false and absurd induction is often drawn from very insufficient 
premises, or premises which have no existence except in the mind 
of the theorizer.— Edit. 
