114 BROKEN WIND. 



CHAP. XXIII. 



BROKEN WIND. 



Broken wind, in general, seems to be but little 

 understood by farriers and others. Mr. Gibson 

 says, that hasty feeding a horse for sale causes the 

 lungs and heart to grow, and all the contents 

 within the chest to increase so much in a few 

 years, as to be nearly twice their natural size. It is 

 said by Mr. Coleman to be a rupture of the air- 

 cells of the lungs, which (I have no doubt) has 

 been the case in many instances, and has been 

 brought on by a determination on them from 

 violent exercise on a full stomach. 



I shall first very briefly describe how healthful 

 respiration is performed, that I may the better 

 explain my opinion concerning the nature of this 

 complaint. Respiration may be defined the alter- 

 nate reception and expulsion of air ; when the 

 horse takes his breath, the lungs are expanded, 

 and therefore the cavity of the chest must be en- 

 larged ; for this purpose, the diaphragm, or midriff, 

 descends, becomes tightened, and hence increases 

 the dimentions of the chest length-ways, and the 

 ribs coming forwards, and bulging outwards, in- 



