410 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERS. 



by the air rushing through the limited aperture. Having 

 satisfied yourself by this first experiment that the horse is 

 sound in the wind, proceed next to watch the flanks in 

 breathing. If the belly of the animal swells out, and the 

 inspirations and expirations are regular, it may be reason- 

 ably inferred that his lungs are sound ; but if these are 

 irregular, and the inspiration stops before it is completed, 

 with a considerable drawing in of the flanks, with the ribs 

 very apparent, then it is certain his lungs are unsound. 

 The third test of broken wind is to trot the horse pretty 

 sharply, and watch the motion of his flanks, and observe if 

 he utters a noise in breathing, with considerable blowing. 

 If this is the case, reject him. 



To examine whether a horse is a roarer, piper, or whistler, 

 place him with his side against a wall or the side of the 

 stall ; take hold of the bridle near the mouth, and hold his 

 head high, and give him a smart blow on the ribs with your 

 doubled fist, or touch him smartly on the belly with a stick ; 

 and if he utters a grunt at each blow, he is a roarer ; and 

 if he dances about in consequence of the blows, sobbing, 

 and drawing his breath quickly, this will be found an indi- 

 cation of his being a whistler, or piper. But for testing all 

 diseases connected with the lungs, nothing is better than a 

 good gallop or hard trot. Consider no time wasted which 

 is spent in thoroughly investigat ng all points connected 

 with the health of a horse. 



Having satisfied yourself on the above points, stand in the 

 rear of the animal, and scrutinize carefully the prominences 

 of the hip-bones, and see whether or not they are on a level, 

 and especially mark the round bones, which are situated a 

 little posterior to the prominences of the hip. This is 

 liable to lameness from strains, blows, and other causes. If 

 there is any fault here, there generally will be a wasting of 



