GLANDERS. This is the last disease it is our in tention to give, and it is the most formidable of all: in fact, it is justly said to form the opprobrium of ' the veterinarian's art. And what renders this a matter of surprise to an indifferent observer, is, that glanders is an affection which in the generality of cases, for some considerable time does not ap pear to detract in the slightest degree from the ani mal's ordinary state of health: and so far is it, while it continues in this passive stage,from lowering his condition, that he not only continues to enjoy health, but, from the state of inactivity into which he is probably thrown in consequence, absolutely gets fat; hence it is we hear people say, that it seems impossible, under such circumstances, their horses can be diseased. Most writers make a di vision of glanders into acute and chronic: the for mer being that which, when once set in action, proceeds regularly through its course, and at last ends in destruction; the latter, a stage in which the disease appears to be stationary, or at all events one in which it makes no perceptible inroad upon the general health.
.Route Glanders consists in an ulceration of a pe culiar character of the pituatury membrane (the membrane lining the cavities of the nose), which is commonly accompanied with glandular swellings under the jaws. These ulcerations at first assume the appearance of pin-holes, only that they are shal low, instead of deep, and have thin indented edges; they exude a purulent matter, which so completely envelopes them, that their true character cannot be well made out until their surfaces are wiped dry. They exist in most numbers upon the middle or partition of the nose; but they are also often found grouped in the hollow within the doubling of the nostril. By interunion, one with another, they at length form broad ulcerous patches, which grow deeper and deeper until they threaten destruction to the septum nisi and turbinated bones: a period at which the sloughing and suppurative action is occasioning so much defluxion that there is always danger of suffocation; which is, in fact, the common way acute glanders ends in death.
Chronic Glanders consists in a purulent ill-condi tioned discharge from the nose, commonly but from one nostril: this is also the case in the acute form; but it is not so generally confined to one side of the head as the chronic. The difference between the two is, that in the chronic there is no ulceration. The source of this affection is the frontal sinus: if that be opened with a common gimblet, and a fea ther, introduced into the hole, be withdrawn smear ed with matter, we may be certain the disease ex ists.
On the subject of a remedy for glanders, we have but little to offer; and that little, even, is not of a very satisfactory nature. In respect to acute gland ers, it is considered, and in the present state of our knowledge wisely so, too, as the signal for the de struction of the animal. Of chronic glanders, many cases have been known to recover; and many of these have appeared to derive their benefit from treatment. We would recommend some tonic or astringent medicine, internally, such as either blue or green vitriol, given in the form of drink: the former in doses of six drams daily, the latter of one ounce: also, we would advise, that the tumours tin der the jaws be blistered; and the affected nostril and sinus injected with either a solution of alum, zinc, or blue vitriol.
Glanders being a contagious malady, it will be necessary to separate the subject apart from all other horses. We believe, however, that actual con tact of the matter with an abraded, or at least bare surface, is necessary for its communication: there fore the danger does not appear to be so great as many are apt to imagine. Notwithstanding, we deem it prudent to take this precaution.
We shall conclude this article with some observa tions on the subject of AGE, Or the art of numbering the years of a horse's life by the appearances presented by his teeth.