684 
ON GLANDERS. 
circumstances, and with symptoms so prominently marked as to 
justify the immediate destruction of six of them. 
I have a right to call for less precipitation in the solution of our 
doubts, having been very guarded myself. I have confessed that 
I have often been exposed to mistakes, the symptoms varying so 
much, according to its several stages. Even as to the horses 
above-mentioned, I should at the time have hesitated before I had 
declared them to be glandered, had it not been for the subsequent 
discovery that they had the farcy. 
As I observed in the paper which has attracted the attention of 
your correspondent, the peculiar circumstances under which I have 
had to detect the disease in this island, have confirmed me in the 
opinion that we cannot be too cautious in the analysis of the symp¬ 
tomatic features of cases. For, doubtless, there is much to excite 
apprehension in appearances, when, after all, the reality does not 
exist. 
In many of the horses imported here from France, when the hold 
has been full, and closed in consequence of boisterous weather, 
after even so short a passage, I have had inflammatory catarrhs, 
swelling of the maxillary glands, and running at the nose, and yet 
the result has shewn that glanders did not exist. 
About twelve years ago, a Mr. Lecocq landed a cargo of horses, 
all of which were extremely ill. The lives of four of them were 
in a very precarious state for some days, but through prompt treat¬ 
ment and constant attention they all recovered: some of them, 
however, very slowly, having a continuous running at the nose, 
enlarged glands, and abraded surface of the nostrils. 
My hopes of recovery were founded on the appearance of the 
matter, which had not those distinguishing peculiarities which, 
traced in their gradual development from the infancy of the disease 
to its consummation, supply, in my opinion, one of the most deci¬ 
sive tests—in many cases I might affirm the only decisive test—in 
consequence of the tricks practised on diseased horses. 
The fact is well known. Mr. Mayer has proved that the an¬ 
cients had sought for a cure in the dissection of the maxillary 
gland. Whatever degree of efficacy may be allowed to the opera¬ 
tion, as a means of effecting a cure, I well know that recourse has 
been had to it with a view to conceal the disease. Years ago, the 
gipsies about Norwood were in the habit of buying up glandered 
horses. They had the maxillary gland dissected out, injected an 
astringent lotion up the nose, and they found willing purchasers at 
Smithfield. I have had the same game practised on me here; but I 
was forearmed. To detect the peculiarity on which I lay stress, re¬ 
quires not merely keenness of observation, but lengthened prac¬ 
tice. It is owing to this that an adequate judge will often expe- 
