24G The Management and Treatment of the Horse, 



which I have already described. As the feet of horses 

 are of such importance, I would advise every one to 

 acquire a knowledge of them, and to do this there is no 

 better plan than to attend daily a well-employed shoeing- 

 forge, and for a small gratuity the smith will point out 

 the different formations of the feet that come under his 

 observations. If he has had experience he will be able 

 to point out readily the indications of disease ; he will 

 also see why different formed feet require that the shoes 

 should be modified and adapted to the peculiarity of the 

 structure or probably existing disease. The next im- 

 portant thing to study is the wind, for it is this point 

 that the coper knows well how to patch up for twenty- 

 four hours, which is long enough for his purpose ; study 

 all that I have said upon the different complaints of the 

 lungs. The wind may be tested by what is known as 

 coughing the horse, that is by pinching the windpipe im- 

 mediately behind the jaw. If the horse gives a long sharp 

 cough it is an indication that it is sound in that respect, 

 but if the cough be short and hollow it may be inferred 

 that the horse has unsound lungs. Let gentle pressure 

 of the windpipe be frequently repeated in order to fully 

 test this, and be sure to do this with your own hand, as 

 dealers know that by compressing the windpipe with one 

 hand and the forefinger of the other, the horse is forced to 

 cough while doing so and produces that shrill sound con- 

 sidered a test for good wind, by the air rushing through 

 the limited aperture. Having satisfied yourself in this re- 

 spect, proceed to watch the flanks in breathing; if the belly 

 of the animal swells out and the inspirations and the ex- 

 pirations are regular, it may be reasorably inferred that 



