In the majority of the states the treatment of a glandered horse is
prohibited by statute. Yet without providing definite machinery for the
administration of the law, and without indemnities for horses disposed
of, such laws are largely inoperative. On the other hand treatment is
quite successful on the pastures of our dry table lands and mountains.
It can, however, be sanctioned only when careful segregation and
disinfection are provided for. Acute cases of glanders are hopeless in
any region, but chronic cases and especially such as have the lesions
confined to the skin are much more hopeful.
The unbroken nodules may be injected with carbolic acid solution
(1:200), or permanganate of potash (1:60). The open sores on the skin
may be treated with the same solutions, with mercuric chloride (1:2000
to 1:5000), with iodized phenol, with cupric sulphate (saturated
solution), or with chloride of zinc. A primary nodule may be excised and
the sore treated with antiseptics. When the lesions are very extensive
the less poisonous agents should be made use of, or tincture of iodine
may be substituted. The nose lesions may be treated by the weaker
solutions of iodine or of iodized phenol.
Benefit also comes from a course of tonics the most successful of which
have been arseniate of strychnia, binodide of copper, sulphate of
copper, nitrate of baryta and sulphate of iron. The sulphites,
bisulphites and hyposulphites and phenic acid are desirable adjuncts. An
open air life at pasture is the ideal condition. Otherwise thorough
ventilation, sunshine, moderate exercise and nourishing easily
digestible food including grain are very important.
When conditions are favorable and an absolutely secluded pasture can be
secured, with shelter from storms, and where civic or state authorities
do not take effective measures to stamp out glanders, nor compensate
owners for animals killed, mild, chronic and cutaneous cases and occult
ones that have reacted to mallein without showing any other symptom, may
be subjected to treatment. They should have an open air life, a generous
diet, including grain, perfect cleanliness and pure air in the
shelter-shed, an antiseptic and tonic medication (sulphites, tonics) may
be given, and every three months a new mallein test may be applied. If
the individual horse passes two successive tests without reaction, and
shows no other indication of glanders, if his general health appears
perfect and his condition good, he may be returned to work as a sound
animal. With effective measures of extinction in force on the other
hand, and indemnity for the slaughtered animal, any such measure would
be entirely unwarrantable.
Treatment by injecting the serum of immune animal subcutem has given
encouraging results. Helman, Semmer and Itzkovitch, Pilavios, Bonome and
Vivaldi, Johne, Schindelka, Prieur and others record recoveries in
recent cases and there need be no doubt of its value in subjects that
are naturally somewhat refractory to the germ. Babes introduced the
blood serum of the ox, which is naturally immune, and Prieur speaks with
confidence of the treatment of cutaneous glanders in man and certain
cases of pulmonary glanders in the horse.