The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-11-01
THE CHAMBERS.

l y = -
New York, has an article on the Clan
ders, in which the editor complains bit
terly of the action of government off,
cials in disposing of glandered horses to
farmers and others, at public sale. 1t is
well known that Chambers Is one Of the
most fatal and contagious diseases that
affect the horse, and that it has baffied
the skill and energy of man. For more
than two thousand years it has received
the careful attention and diligent study
of the most eminent practitioners that
have appeared from time to time, and
yet no remedy has been discovered for
the dreadful malady. 1t is readily COM
municated by diseased animal to q
healthy one, and it has always been the
object of veterinary science to teach the
people the fatal consequences Of the
contagion, and to induce them to take
precautions TO prevent it from spreading
broadcast over the country. Science
and humanity recommend that all
horses suffering with this disease shall
be put out of the way as speedily as
possible, in order to confine the malady
to narrow limits, and to preserve the
healthy animals from its fearful ravages.
The editor of the Oracle says: ''l''l a
Everything that tends to weaken the
constitution of the horse will generally
produce CHAMBERS. Every exciting cause
of disease exerts it's chief influence
upon the mucous membrane. The hard
ships that our cavalry horses have been
compelled to undergo and the severe la
Dor that was required of them during the
war, were calculated to promote disease,
and it is not surprising that in disband-
ing the mounted regiments, the Govern
ment officials discovered that they had
large number of glandered horses on
their hands. In many cases the disease
existed in its most violent form, and as
the horses were kept huddled together,
the malady was communicated with
great rapidity. 1t lie almost impossible
for an infected horse to remain long in
the same stable or pasture with others
| without communicating the disease to
them. If the discharge from glandered
horse is rubbed upon wound or mu-
cous surface, it will produce similar dis
| CubCs Az ~ uOU tlC OlCdtA tu6t 10 COntdklOuS
but the matter flowing from the ulcers.
This matter may come in contact with
any wound, however slight, or fall on
q delicate membrane that absorbs the
poisonous properties, and thus produce
The infection, and spread from animal
| to animal. When the disease is COM
municated, we might say thatit Is done
by incubation. But this fearful disease
is not confined to the horse alone; it
may even be communicated to man.
Then groom or farrier who handles q
glandered horse should proceed with
extreme caution. He should never al
low the matter to come In contact with
| a wounded hand, nor should he allow it
to reach the thin membranes of the
nose. The malady, whether it infects
man or a lower order of animals, pro-
duces horrible suffering and death. In
scattering glandered horses broadcast
over the country, the government has
been guilty of great wrong upon the
people. We can scarcely estimate the
| injury that will result from such an un-
wise policy. Weknow not from whence
the order came authorizing quartermas-
tiers to thus dispose of infected stock to
the people, yet We have no hest
fancy in saying that the proceed
ing was terribly, unjust, and the
parties directly responsible for the out
rage should be held to a strict account.
| The disease is not one that comes and
disappears in q day. or a season, but 1t is
tenacious in character, and requires
years to arrest its progress. The stock
of country, and especially horses, con-
stitute large proportion of it's wealth,
and in scattering glandered horses
| h IN In lot fh n
sands of stables in the land, the govern
ment has struck a fatal blow at one of
| the great arteries of finance. When the
people suffer the government must suffer
also. What, then, has been gained by
| the public sale of diseased horses? A few
dollars in the Golfers of the treasury; but
as the people, who honor all drafts made
upon that treasury are the purchasers of
these worse than worthless animals, we
do not see how the government has
been benefited. The agents OF the
people have simply perpetrated great
outrage upon the people whom they re-
present. They have introduced fear
full cOntagion into their midst under
the false plea of economy. How inf
nitely better would it have been had ev-
cry horse with the least symptoms OF
CHAMBERS been shot and burned or buried.
Such ultimately must be their fate,
and if it had been done by government
officials the disease would have died
with the horses, instead of being conn
municated to thousands of others.
Although great outrage has been per-
petrated, ii Is not too late to prevent
other mischief. The least atonement
the government can make, is to arrest
the sale of all diseased horses that may
now be in her possession. Let all horses
Enthusiastically affected with CHAMBERS be
shot without delay. We ask 1t on the
score of humanity as well as economy.
Neither genius nor scientific skill can
arrest the progress of the disease. 1t is
fatal in character, and has triumphed
over the ingenuity of man and the
teachings of veterinary science, for more
than two thousand years. Our only safe
| ty Is in precautions to guard against IL.
To the farmers who have become the
| unfortunate purchasers OF the infected
animals, we would say, remove the CLAN
dered horse from the stable in which the
healthy are confined. Throw open the
doors and let the fresh air circulate
through the building. Leave nothing
to ferment noxious gasses, ana whlte-
wash the stalls and managers. Cleanli-
ness, exercise and pure air are the best
preventatives that we know Of.