Glanders : a clinical treatise / by William Hunting.

  • Hunting, William, 1846-1913.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Glanders : a clinical treatise / by William Hunting. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    so conducted that the probabihty of ingestion was eHminated and inhala- tion alone ensured. The most recent experiments and observations point to as great a probability of fallacy here as in glanders. I am quite convinced that nearly every case of glanders has arisen as the result of the virus entering the system by ingestion. Methods of Spread. I have just attempted to show how the in- fective virus of glanders leaves a diseased horse, and how it enters the system of a healthy one. The fact that the virus remains active outside the body of an animal for at least some days renders it necessary to keep observation—not only upon the diseased horse, but upon the various ways in which infection may be carried. Most important of all is it to know that a horse, apparently quite healthy, may be a source of infection. The latent form of glanders is probably not infective until some open lesion occurs, but this may happen without warning. Ulcerative lesions may arise in the trachea, rendering the horse infective, and afford no clinical evidence of existence until they have largely developed—a dangerous condition extending over some days, during which time the horse is exces- sively dangerous to all around him, but is unsuspected. Then, again, visible disease may not be recognised. Although a very evident nasal discharge exists, it may be mistaken for catarrh, and so mangers and pails are infected, and other horses are allowed to use them. Every nasal discharge should be looked upon with suspicion until its nature is satisfactorily diagnosed. Sponges, leathers, combs and brushes may carry the disease from one horse to another, if they are used upon an infected animal. Of course, precautions would be taken if it were known that a diseased horse were on the premises, but latent disease is not recognisable, and it so suddenly develops in many cases that contagion is carried before it is known to be present. There are in London many infected studs. Bankruptcy and death cause the sale of these; and the owners, without selling a single developed case of disease, often spread infection to many centres by distributing horses suffering from latent glanders. Sale yards do not spread disease by being infected places, or by disposing of visibly infected horses. The proprietors are most careful,