REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 301 



proper actiou. As the abdominal muscles are agents in respira- 

 tion, it is not surprising that a modified action should take place 

 when they are deranged ; others are called in to supplement 

 their action, and we have a double lift in breathing. 



Flatulence caused by continued indigestion, arising from 

 functions interfered with, and emphysematous states of the lungs 

 found after death, are, together with a paralysis of the nerves, 

 going to the muscles of the windpipe, merely symptoms of the 

 great disarrangement of the abdominal region ; the whole cause 

 of which exists in an unsystematic mode of breeding, rearing, 

 managing, and feeding farm horses. 



Turn to the stables of the trainer and see his system. 

 Scrupulously exact, the exercise, grooming, feeding, watering, 

 &c, are, in the language of the epicure, " done to a turn," all are 

 executed by rule and to the minute. Nothing mars the work 

 of the trainer so much as one who is heedless of " a system," 

 which with him is the system. And he has no broken-winded 

 animals, few or no chronic coughs, no colic, no laminitis. But 

 remove the thorough-bred to the farmer's stable, and a thousand 

 to one, he is made to suffer them all. 



Treatment. — Recent cases of broken wind are curable. The 

 method is this — Avoid heavy feeding, of no matter what kind — 

 particularly cooked food. Establish systematic modes of feed- 

 ing, such as regular times. No horse should fast more than four 

 hours at the most — give good food in a digestible form, and do 

 not allow greedy feeders food and water ad libitum, particularly 

 before work ; if no other method can be adopted to secure this, 

 as the beast will continue to devour his bedding, put on a 

 muzzle as soon as a proper quantity has been consumed. Such 

 animals should never be allowed to eat their fill, but the stomach 

 must be satisfied with bulk, containing nutritious food, as oats, 

 beans, or peas, in mixture, according to the work. If the ravenous 

 feeding has been induced by irregularity, the disposition will be 

 overcome by the treatment here prescribed in a short time, when 

 extreme regularity must be afterwards enjoined, both as regards 

 work and times of feeding. Confirmed cases of broken wind are 

 dependent upon states or lesions of tissues, which are irrecover- 

 able. 



Its prevention is mostly certain in stables where the real 

 welfare and condition of the horse is considered. 



Gastritis. — Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach, now 

 and then occurs as an independent malady, having its cause 

 from the introduction of irritants within the organ, as poisons. 



Mostly it arises in conjunction with inflammation of other 

 organs as the bowels, &c, &c, with which it is in direct com- 

 munication. As an idiopathic affection it is usually induced by 

 the absurd meddling of the attendant who presumes to the 



