170 
COLEMAN NOCKOLDS. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
SOME DISEASES OF ANIMALS THAT ARE TRANS¬ 
MISSIBLE TO MAN.* 
By Coleman Nockolds, V. S., M. D., Grand Rapids, Mich. 
It has been known for many ages that certain diseases of 
animals conld be transmitted to man. It is not a new subject, 
but, nevertheless, it is an important as well as interesting one to 
us as medical students. It is to be regretted that the close rela¬ 
tion of some diseases of man and the lower animals has not been 
as thoroughly understood by the medical and veterinary profes¬ 
sions as they should be, for the benefit of both man and animals. 
Most probably the chief reason that this subject has not been 
more fully studied, except by comparatively few members of 
both professions, is the fact that until the study of bacteriology 
became prominent the true causes of many of the contagious 
diseases were not known, and many of what we now know to be 
one and the same condition in man and animals were believed 
to be entirely separate, both as regards the etiological factors 
and the pathological conditions. Every day there is being 
more and more interest taken in this subject by men of ability, 
and it would be of great benefit to the public at large, as well 
as the medical and veterinary practitioner, if there were more 
interest manifested and if this broad field of investigation were 
more fully dealt with. Some medical men think it beneath 
their notice to take any interest in a sick cow or a dog that has 
worms, yet for the benefit of their patient it would be better if 
they investigated more fully some of those ailments amongst 
the lower animals, and it is possible that upon a careful in¬ 
quiry and examination, they could trace the cause of a sickness 
from which one of their patients is suffering to the family cow 
or horse, and maybe even the pig or fowl. It is not necessary 
for a physician to be a practicing veterinary surgeon to under- 
* Read before the Students’ Society of the Grand Rapids Medical College, March 
17, 1899. 
