130 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



use of medicines that have a depressing effect. When the veterina- 

 rian is examining a horse for soundness, and he suspects that the 

 animal has been " fixed," he usually gives the horse as much water as 

 he will drink and then has him ridden or driven rapidly up a hill or 

 on a heavy road. This will bring out the characteristic breathing of 

 heaves if the horse is so afflicted, but Avill not cause the symptoms of 

 heaves in a health}'- horse. All broken-winded horses have the 

 cough peculiar to the affection, but it is not regular. A considerable 

 time ma}^ elapse before it is heard and then it may come on in 

 paroxysms, especially when first brought out of the stable into the 

 cold air, or when excited by work, or after a drink of cold water, 

 riie cough is usually the first symptom of the disease. 



Treatment. — T\Tien the disease is established there is no cure for it. 

 Proper attention paid to the diet will relieve the distressing symp- 

 toms to a certain extent, but they will undoubtedly reappear in their 

 intensity the first time the animal overloads the stomach or is al- 

 lowed food of bad quality. Clover hay or bulky feed which contains 

 but little nutriment have much to do with the cause of the disease, 

 and therefore should be entirely omitted when the animal is affected, 

 as well as before. It has been asserted that the disease is unknown 

 where clover hay is never used. The diet should be confined to feed 

 of the best quality and in the smallest quantity. The bad effect of 

 moldy or dusty hay, fodder, or feed of an}^ kind can not be over- 

 estimated. A small quantity of the best hay once a day is sufficient. 

 This should be cut and dampened. The animal should invariabl}'^ 

 be watered before feeding; never directly after a meal. The animal 

 should not be worked immediately after a meal. Exertion, when the 

 stomach is full, invariably aggravates the symptoms. Turning on 

 pasture gives relief. Carrots, potatoes, or turnips chopped and 

 mixed with oats or corn are a good diet. Half a pint to a pint of 

 thick, dark molasses with each feed is useful. 



Arsenic is efficacious in palliating the symptoms. It is best ad- 

 ministered in the form of a solution of arsenic, as Fowler's solution 

 or as the white powdered arsenious acid. Of the former th^ dose is 

 1 ounce to the drinking water three times daily; of the latter one 

 may give 3 grains in each feed. These quantities may be cautiously 

 increased as the animal becomes accustomed to the drug. If the 

 bowels do not act regularly, a pint of raw linseed oil may be given 

 once or tAvice a month, or a handful of Glauber's salt may be given 

 in the feed twice daily, so long as necessary. It must, however, be 

 borne in mind that all medicinal treatment is of secondary considera- 

 tion; careful attention paid to the diet is of greatest importance. 

 Broken-winded animals should not be used for breeding purposes. 

 A predisposition to the disease may be inherited. 



