Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
_Prevention._ This is much more promising than in equine influenza. The
extension of incubation to three days and the indisposition of the
infection to spread beyond the stable into which it has been brought, or
the near vicinity of the diseased animal, gives us a great relative
advantage. The early, extreme rise of temperature of the infected horses
gives the opportunity of removing these horses to a special stable or
shed, where they can have special attendants, and the stable drainage
and manure can be kept apart, and disinfected, or spread and plowed
under by oxen. The infected stable should be emptied, the soiled hay,
litter and manure burned, and the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings,
and above all the mangers and racks must be thoroughly disinfected. Lime
wash with chloride of lime or mercuric chloride will suffice. The
gutters should be cleaned, washed and drenched with mercuric chloride,
followed by the whitewash. If there is rotten wood work or
filth-saturated soil these must be effectually treated. In many stables
it will be impossible to do all this thoroughly, yet closing the empty
building tightly, and filling it with chlorine gas, or even sulphur
fumes, concentrated until they extinguish the burning sulphur, and
keeping shut up for twenty-four hours will usually suffice. Washing with
a solution of formalin (1:40 or 1 per cent of formaldehyde), or even the
evaporation of this agent by heat in the closed building is very
effective, with the serious drawback that it is very irritating to the
lungs. It can however be conveniently used for the sterilization of
harness, stable implements, halters, and all movable objects in the
building.
Strange horses, such as new purchases, should be placed in quarantine
for one week in a separate stable, and not hitched up with sound horses.
If they show evidence of recent illness this may be extended to six
weeks.
For horses that have been shipped long distances, and stopped for rest
or feeding in public stables or yards, a similar quarantine is
essential. This might be obviated if a system of thorough disinfection
of such stables, yards and cars, could be enforced, between any two
successive lots of horses, and if the latter were accompanied by
certificates of the absence of contagious pneumonia and all other
infectious diseases from the localities from which they were shipped and
through which they had come. Such certificates should be made by
veterinary officials in the employ of the government, which would thus
become responsible for their genuineness.
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