THE FARMER AT HOME. 



55 



degree of frost they will be able to withstand without sustaining the 

 .east injury, when they are in their highest state of flowering, is 

 astonishing ; and, the most singular and invaluable characteristic of 

 this plant is the great length of time which is contained between 

 their first beginning to flower and their final termination ; and that, 

 too, all from the same scad, sown at the same time, and the plants all 

 treated precisely in the same manner, 



BROKEN WINDED. This is disease of horses, in which the 

 inspiration is performed by one effort, and the expiration by two ; 

 which is plainly distinguished by observing the flanks, and noticing 

 that the expiration occupies double the time of the inspiration. The 

 cause is, the rupture or running together of some of the air cells in 

 the lungs, and the consequence is, that while the expansion of the 

 chest fills the lungs with air, an unusual and double effort is required 

 to force it out of the unnatural position it occupies. In healthy lungs, 

 when they are expanded, the air will rush in easily enough, and one 

 effort of the muscles of expiration is sufficient for the purpose of ex- 

 pelling it ; but, when the cells have run into each other, the cavity is 

 BO irregular, and contains so many corners and blind pouches, that it 

 is exceedingly difficult to force it out again, and two efforts are 

 scarcely competent fully to effect it. A dry, husky cough of a pecu- 

 liar kind, attends this disease. 



The origin of the disease is to be found most commonly in the 

 previous treatment of the animal ; although it is sometimes the result 

 of inflammation of the lungs. Horses which are fed on bulky food, 

 which are allowed but a short time to eat, or are naturally great 

 feeders, and which are put to severe work on a full stomach, are the 

 horses that most commonly are broken winded. Hence farmers' 

 horses suffer the most, as the food they receive is generally more 

 bulky, and the time allowed for receiving and digesting it is less than 

 with others, which are fed mostly on grain and are allowed longer 

 seasons for rest. It is not pretended that this disease can be cured, 

 yet much may be done in the way of palliation. The food should con- 

 sist of much nutriment in little compass ; the oats should be increased, 

 and the hay diminished ; occasional mashes will be found useful ; 

 water should be given sparingly except at night ; and the horse should 

 never be exercised on a full stomach. 



BRUSH. An instrument for cleaning anything of dust and dirt, 

 by light rubbing, as floors, furniture, clothes, boots, or merchandise. 

 The process is too frequent to require description. Brushes were 

 originally made of shrubs or small branches of trees tied together, 

 and such are yet used for coarse purposes. But the materials 

 most used are bristles set in wood. Painters use brushes of bristles 

 in their work. Silversmiths use a wire brush for scrubbing metals in 

 order to gilding ; and there is a method of staining leather by rubbing 

 the Ci/lor on the skin with a brush. 



