The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm StockBurkett, Charles William
Science
The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm Stock
Burkett, Charles William
Veterinary medicine
Enough has now been said to indicate that disease originates as a
reaction between the cause of it and the body. Withhold food, and
starvation--the disease--follows. Withhold fresh air and oxygen, and the
tissue breaks down; disease results as a reaction from the normal use of
air and the demands of the body for oxygen. Allow bacteria admission to
the body and settlement in the tissues or organs most agreeable to each
particular one, and these will grow, multiply, and, unless overcome by
the natural resistance of the body, will conquer and destroy, causing
sooner or later death and decay.
=Immunity Sought by Inoculation.=--Many diseases that now yield to no
curative treatment are being met by inoculation. By this method the body
is reinforced by serum injections, that disease germs and infections may
be warded off, or in case of attack, be so fortified against the disease
germs as to destroy them or render them inactive.
=Some Animals More Resistant to Disease.=--An infectious and contagious
disease may affect a herd or flock, destroying few or many. Some may
never be affected and yet be subjected to exposure and contagion; such
are immune and resist this particular disease. Others may suffer a mild
attack, but throw it off with no disastrous consequence; such are strong
and their organs ably fortified against any injurious inroad by the
disease. On the other hand the majority in a flock or herd is not so
able to throw off the disease for the reason of being predisposed by
nature to such attacks; their very susceptibility invites attack, and if
the infection is intensely virulent the affected body will most likely
yield and death follow.
THE COURSE OF DISEASE
Each disease possesses its own peculiar characteristics, which are more
or less conspicuous in each individual case. Then, too, some diseases
develop quickly and end quickly. Others run a course of several weeks;
and still others several months or even years. The first class is acute,
the second chronic. In both kinds nature is at work endeavoring always
to effect a cure; and, unless other complications arise, the result of
improper food, bad sanitary quarters, bad air, or conditions not
conducive to health, recovery will, in most cases, result. The great
drawback to rapid recovery comes from the outside influences that
counteract the curative processes of the body itself. Good nursing, good
air, proper food, are back of rapid recovery.
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