228 



A DICTIONARY. 



not much affected, but there was loss of ap- 

 petite. The animal appeared as if suffering 

 much pain in the head, generally keeping it 

 lower than the manger. These symptoms 

 were followed by delirium, convulsions, and 

 death. In another case, when probably the 

 water had accumulated very gi-adually in 

 the ventricles of the brain, the horse ap- 

 peared to be free from pain, except when 

 the circulation was hurried by brisk motion, 

 when he would fall down in violent spasms, 

 the fit seldom lasting but a few minutes. 

 This horse, being of scarcely any value, was 

 destroyed, and, upon opening the brain, 

 about six ounces of water escaped." Sir 

 George Mackenzie has described two kinds 

 of this disease which sometimes happen to 

 sheep : " The first consists of an accumula- 

 tion of water in the ventricles of the brain ; 

 the other — which is most common — arises 

 from animalculae, called hydatids. In this 

 case, the water is contained in cysts, or bags, 

 unconnected with the substance of the brain, 

 on which it acts fatally by pressure. Very 

 soon after water has begun to collect, either 

 in the ventricles or cysts, the animal shows 

 evident and decisive symptoms of the dis- 

 ease. He starts, looks giddy and confused, 

 as if at a loss what to do ; retires from the 

 flock, and sometimes exhibits a very affect- 

 ing spectacle of misery." 



Breaking. — The breaking of young 

 horses is a matter of great importance, and 

 should never be intrusted to any one of a 

 cruel or harsh disposition, as, under such a 

 master, the very best-tempered horse may 

 be rendered vicious. They are often broken 

 when much too young ; they are often found 

 racing at tln-ee, and in constant work before 

 they are four years old. This is one of the 

 causes of contracted feet and lameness, that 

 are continually presenting themselves to our 

 notice. Farmers in general put their colts 

 to work too young ; and, although exercise 

 may improve their growth and constitution, 

 yet this advantage is more than counter- 

 balanced by their being shod at a period 

 when their feet are tender. 



Bridle Hand. — The left is called the 



bridle hand, in contradistinction to the right, 

 which is termed the whip hand. 



Broken Wind. — The origin of broken 

 wind is supposed to be a morbid secretion 

 from the membrane lining the windpipe, 

 bronchial tubes, and ramifications ; the air- 

 cells are somewhat ruptured, and the air is 

 entangled in the cellular substance, or com- 

 mon connecting membrane. The bulk of 

 the lungs is greatly increased, while their 

 capacity for containing air is diminished. 

 It is stated in Rees' Cyclopcedia, under the 

 head of broken wind, " that, after opening 

 more than ten broken-winded horses, their 

 lungs were uniformly found emphysemat- 

 ous. (See Emphysema.) This complaint 

 is generally considered incurable ; but it 

 may often be alleviated by constant atten- 

 tion to diet." The animal should be fed on 

 shorts, and green food if it can be procured, 

 and boiled carrots. When used, his exer- 

 cise should at first be moderate, and he 

 should never be exercised immediately after 

 feeding. If the horse shows any disposition 

 to eat the litter, a muzzle must be provided. 



According to Mr. Richard Lawi-ence, 

 " the most common appearance of the lungs 

 in broken-winded horses is a general thick- 

 ening of their substance, by which their 

 elasticity is in a great measure destroyed, 

 and their weight specifically increased. At 

 the same time, their capacity for receiving 

 air is diminished." Dr. White writes, " that 

 he has examined the lungs of broken-winded 

 horses without observing this general thick- 

 ening of their substance ; on the conti-ary, 

 they have appeared superficially lighter and 

 larger than in their natural state. Two 

 horses were purchased for the purpose of 

 making experiments, and so badly broken- 

 winded as to be useless. In the first, the 

 lungs were unusually large, and there was 

 a considerable quantity of ah' in the cellular 

 membrane ; but it was not ascertained 

 whether the air had escaped from the air- 

 cells, or had been generated within the 

 common cellular membrane. The other 

 horse was kept about a month in a field 

 where there was no water and very little 



