Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-13
INHERITED DISEASES.


INHERITED DISEASES.
How Abnormal Pecullaritles OF Organixa-
tIon Arc Transmitted In Animals-
Every breeder should know, as q
part of his business. not only some
thing of the physiology of the animals
he breeds, but a good deal of the dis
eases to which they are subjected and
most especially of those diseases which
are hereditary. There is very won
derful law of inheritance by which abb
normal peculiarities of the animal
organization, both of structure and
function. are transmitted from parent
to offspring. 1t is commonly known,
and perhaps sufficiently realized by in
telligent breeders, that structural
changes are certainly thus transmitted,
but it is not so we'll understood, and is
generally ignored if known Or believed.
as readily inherited. Even habits are
transmissible, and the progeny acquire
the disposition of temper from the
parents. All these facts are of the
greatest Importance to farmers, as we'll
as breeders. for the large majority of
farmers make the breeding of animals
a considerable part of their business.
Transmissible diseases may not make
their appearance at birth, but the pre-
disposition to these exists in the ami
NAL, ready to be developed on the first
occasion afforded by such stress or ac-
cident, or natural process of growth
as may happen. The organs involved
are really so defective in structure or
weak in function as to fail from the
first external cause which may present
itself.
Some diseases are more readily and
uniformly transmitted than others;
scrofula is one of these, and this gem
eral term includes many common but
destructive disorders which cause
enormous losses to owners of naturally
diseased cattle, and which are fire.
quently communicated through them
to mankind. This class of diseases is
characterized by a perversion of the
nutritive functions, the formation of
peculiar tumors, such as tubercles,
assesses, and swellings of the glands,
and unnatural growths of tissue in the
bones. flesh. or skin.
Scrofulous disorders are perhaps the
most dangerous because of their easy
transmission to mankind, and are
worthy of the most careful study
They include pulmonary consumption,
consumption of the bowels, persistent
diarrhea. dysentery, hydrocephalus or
big head, (water on the brain), osteo-
sarcoma, the commonly-known big
jaw; goitre, and persistent swelling of
the salivary and other glands. includ-
ing the udder, and certain contagious
diseases of the skin. No animal so
diseased should be used for breeding
or food, nor any of their products.
Tendency to these diseases is indi-
Gated in COWS and other cattle by thin
long carcass, fat ribs, hollow TANKS,
extremely thin neck, long. thin bony
jaw, thin, pale, hard skin, dry hair,
excessive appetite with inaptitude for
fattening, prominent haunch and rump
bones, thin blue milk in COWS, large,
prominent eyes, and lagguor of habit
which expresses general weakness.
Other common inherited diseases are
bone and other spavins, curbs, ring
bone, navicular disease, swelled legs,
contraction of the back tendons, grease
Ga specially frequent product of lynn
phatic constitution), roaring, heaves,
ophthalima (moon- blindness), blind
ness. rheumatism, farcy, CHAMBERS,
blind staggers, epilepsy, and even such
diseases as poll evil and recurring
strangles.
Innumerable instances might be
culled from the veterinary works and
records, as well as from personal rec
came ringboned in her eleventh year,
and whose sire was ringboned, had
several colts, every one of whom APP
peared sound until they were from five
to seven years old, when every one be-
came lame from the disease. A popu-
lar French stallion which became
blind, but not apparently so from dis
ease, communicated the same disease
and it's results invariably to his colts,
which lost their sig hit before they were
three years old. Grease, virulent
blood disease, was inherited by every
one of the colts of a stallion suffering
from this disorder, so far as they could
be traced. Indeed, it might be tire
some to give a hundredth part of the
evidence existing to prove the fact.
Vices are also hereditary. Balky
mares have produced balky colts, and
the colts of stallion which was con-
firmed bolter and runaway have shown
the same vicious disposition. Either
parent can bestow these Objectionable
upon its offspring, and in
choosing animals for breeding care is
to be exercised upon both sides to
avoid the presence of transmissible
diseases.
Equally, robustness of health. vigor.
strength, endurance. speed, good tenn
per, docility, and every virtue which
makes our animals valuable aud profit
able, are inherited, or at least the dis
position thereto is, and good deal of
bad management is very often required
to destroy the constitutional good
qualities existing in the progeny of
the best animals. -HenrJ SteWdrt, tn
~ Z. Times.
Montrears Doodle Terrace.