300 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



In such cases I seldom bleed, nor pare the feet, but were I 

 called upon to abstract blood, would prefer the jugular vein for 

 obvious reasons. As a rule, however, I must say that a majority 

 of cases treated, do not warrant my doing either. 



The terminations in cases seen late are pumiced soles or 

 convex feet, with extreme lameness, which are the effects of 

 altered structures within. These may be considerably mitigated 

 by proper shoeing, but never cured. 



Laminitis arises sometimes from concussion on hard roads 

 in feet subjected to too much paring, particularly after the 

 animal being heated is afterwards allowed to stand, or taken 

 through a pond in cold weather. There is a predisposition, by 

 actual disease already existing in the parts, needing only an 

 exciting cause, which unnatural heating on the road and sudden 

 changes amount to, in all potency. 



Laminitis may, in a measure, be prevented, by avoiding the 

 causes of colic and impaction of the stomach, and using the 

 animal properly. The disease is also liable to ensue from 

 pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, another disease which, 

 to a great extent, may be avoided, by systematic treatment and 

 arrangement of the details of stable management and work. 



Broken Wind. — A disease of ravenous feeders, and idle 

 horses, accelerated by undue exercise, after full meals, and an 

 unsystematic mode of stable management, particularly feeding. 

 It is undoubtedly hereditary, not, however, by transmission of 

 the disease direct from parent to offspring, but conformation and 

 states which in themselves favour the development of abnormal 

 conditions and unsoundness. This is fully exemplified in the 

 fact that animals descended from parents affected with broken 

 wind, are affected themselves at an early age, providing the 

 natural habits which are handed down, have their full scope for 

 gradual development and exercise. I have seen the disease in 

 several animals on the same farm, clearfy traceable to hereditary 

 origin, either on the part of some much valued, but worthless, 

 old mare, or by the frecpaent use of an entire horse, whose pro- 

 genitors or himself were subjects of the affection. 



Nature. — Those animals which are prone to take on this 

 affection are great eaters, greedy animals, with large capacity, to 

 whom nothing comes amiss at any time. The first effect is pro- 

 bably an abnormal increase in the size of the stomach, or by 

 long fasts and irregular feeding, a ravenous desire for food is en- 

 gendered — called bulimia — and often the cravings are satisfied 

 in strange ways, and by peculiar kinds of ingesta. 



Succeeding such states, the constant weight of matter in the 

 digestive organs exercises a pernicious influence on the 

 abdominal muscles. Motion also accelerates the alteration of 

 muscular fibre, and the end is they are unable to maintain their 



