50 ROE ON THE HORSE. 



always find symptoms most aggravated, and 

 know at once by dilatation of the nostrils; vio- 

 lent heaving of the flanks, ribs and abdominal 

 muscles, which are all brought into action 

 through the double expiration. It is claimed 

 that this disease (or rather complication of dis- 

 eases) is brought on by over-distention of the 

 stomach and consequent pressure against the 

 diaphragm, which presses upon the Lungs 

 thereby occasioning rupture of the air cells, and 

 must unavoidably bring on some form of the 

 above complication which, when it presents in 

 the form of Heaves may be cured if on their 

 first appearance the horse be put upon wet feed, 

 or turned out to grass, without any use whatever 

 until entirely free from cough. I have seen one 

 or two breeds of horses that whenever they took 

 the distemper while young, were sure to come out 

 of it with broken wind; which proves, I think 

 that there is much more in hereditary taint than 

 is generally imagined. If we can confidently 

 offer one single plan for the cure of Heaves, I am 

 satisfied that it rests alone in turning the animal 

 into a low ground pasture (if in grass season) or 

 if in season of dry feed, only give corn blades, 

 clean straw, marsh or timothy hay as fodder, 

 (well dampened in every case) and not too much 

 of any kind observing strictly to tie in such po- 

 sition that he cannot get down to his bedding, 

 nor possibly get to any dust (which must be 

 scrupulously swept out of reach daily) and give 

 him cut and ground feed, always well wet and 

 allowing no one to use him until you have per- 

 sisted in any or all of the foregoing means at 

 least three or four months, by which time if not 

 improved his case may be set down among the 

 hopeless. 



