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On the 7th day of June, 1853, a Stallion was brought under my
observation, owned by Christian Kerr, of Centre township, then
Union county, which had ten distinct ulcers on his penis, varying
in size from a pea to a dime. These ulcers were accompanied with a
discharge, sometimes bloody, emitting a very disagreeable odor, that
was perceptible at a distance of three or four rods. The attendant of
this horse, noticed these ulcers about five days previous to the time
I was consulted, when the marks were very small. He remarked to me,
that “people declined to allow his horse to cover their mares, stating,
that he was diseased with the pox.” And I actually found this to be the
case. I dressed the horse, and sent him away.
That night I examined all the works veterinary Science that I could
command, and found but a single one that made the least mention of the
disease, but giving neither the cause or treatment of it.
In less than a week, I had over twenty mares to attend, that were
affected by the horse.
I treated the horse and mares according to the best of my judgment,
having first obtained the advice of an eminent human Physician, and I
soon became perfect master of the disease, and saved all but two mares
that were placed under my care. I found, that where the disease had
taken deep root and entered the system, every effort to save the animal
was in vain, and hence, I am satisfied, that where the disease has
been suffered to go unchecked, until it became so deeply rooted as to
vitiate the whole system, it is incurable.