ON FARCY ATS’D GLANDERS. 
661 
hearsay, and coiitradictory evidence^', has, in my opinion, laid 
himself open to our pathological comments. 1 shall not make 
use of any stronger language than this present; but will only 
further observe, that to tell us, that horses really can become 
glandered, and also exist in such filthy sit nations as those al¬ 
ready mentioned, and that for years, with this disease, and yet 
without injury to the general health, is, in my opinion, an insult 
to our common understanding. 
* In one part of bis Lectures (page 195, Veterinarian, 1832), be informs 
us, that a number of troop borses becaine glandered from tbeir being im¬ 
properly admitted into stables that were built at Mytbe. Now, Mr. Cole¬ 
man, wbo, I believe, is not only a native of that place, but possesses pro¬ 
perty there also, says, on the contrary, that the borses were put into open 
sheds only, and that never were borses more healthy; not even one of 
them during tbeii’ stay presenting the slightest appearance of this diseased 
In the same Lecture (stilt speaking of Glanders), Mr. Youatt says, that 
“ Fortunately it is nut so contagious as mange or distemper, or some other 
diseases; if it were, the breed of horses would be swept away.^’ For he 
sa 3 s, “ that the virus (of a glandered horse) maj^ be received, without in¬ 
jury, on the very membrane which is the seat of disease. Horses (he affirms) 
have been kept week after week, and month after month, in the next stall, 
and some in the same stall without becoming infected.'^ 
Now' (in the same Lecture) in direct contradiction to the above, he as¬ 
serts, “That the truth of the matter then is, that every horse that passes 
through a fair, or is baited at an inn, or even travels the common public 
road, may be infected without the rider’s or ow ner’s know ledge, or slightest 
suspicion^. A glandered stallion neighed at a mare that was separated 
from him by a double hedge, and a deep lane ; the virus was wafted across 
’’ For the account of this my authority was Mr. John Percivall. The truth 
of the matter probably is, that he and Mr. Coleman referred to different 
periods, and that both were right. < 
® Has not Mr. Vines’s experience told him that I was here relating the 
histoiy of every contagious disease ? There is this caprice about them all. 
Take which you will, there are persons or animals w ho, in certain states of 
the constitution, almost bid defiance to contagion ; and w ho, at another time, 
succumb almost in a moment. Are they facts or are thej' not, that sound 
horses may be kept in the same stable with glandered ones, week after 
week, and month after month, without becoming infected; and that, at 
other times, one glandered horse being introduced, the disease speedily runs 
through the whole stable? Is it a fact, that it is often caught, oftener per¬ 
haps than elsewhere, at a fair, or in a strange stable? My friend, Mr. W. 
Percivall, had not had a glandered horse in his regiment since he was ap¬ 
pointed to it; but, at the last Marylebone election, the troops were ordered 
into out-quarters. They were absent only a few' days. He has already lost 
three with glanders. Really Mr. Vines seems to be disposed to shut his 
eyes to all experience but his own, and to his ow n, too, where it runs 
counter to a favourite point. He seems to despise pathological deduction 
and fact, for the purpose of abusing this poor lecturer. Fair play or foul 
play, it seems all the same to him ; witness the closing paragraph of this 
note of his, w hich T sisall immediately notice. 
VOL. VI. 4 Q 
