DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 119 



Mix in a pint of cold water, shake well and give as a 

 drench. Give a drench every two or three hours until he 

 seems relieved. If very weak, instead of this, it is best to 

 give 



Whisky 1 wine glass full. 



Ale or Beer y 2 pint. 



Give every three hours until he seems relieved, then 

 proceed with the following: 



Saltpetre or Nitrate of Potash l /^ pound. 



Tartar Emetic l A pound. 



Ground Gentian Root J4 pound. 



Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a 

 day. Feed soft feed with a little boiled flax seed to keep the 

 bowels free. Give cold water in small quantities, but often ; 

 this will have a good effect on the throat. Apply mustard or 

 hot cloths wrung out of hot water to the chest. Clothe the 

 body well, according to the season of the year, and see that 

 the animal has pure air to breathe without being in a draft. 

 In all lung diseases be careful when drenching not to choke 

 the animal. 



16. Broken Wind or Heaves. 



Broken wind or heaves is similar to asthma in man. 



Causes. — It generally develops in horses that are raven- 

 ous feeders, that overload the stomach and are inclined to 

 carry a large belly. This affects the stomach, and the same 

 nerve that helps to supply the stomach with nerve power also 

 helps to supply the lungs. This accounts for its affecting the 

 lungs when the stomach is affected. Inferior foods, such as 

 musty hay (clover hay being the worst), or musty oats, are 

 apt to produce it, or it may be caused by a neglected cold. 

 This disease is rarely found in cavalry horses, as they are fed 

 on the very best of food. 



Symptoms. — This disease is easily detected when it is 

 well established. There is a peculiar way of breathing — a 

 long inspiration followed by a short expiration and a jerking 

 motion at the flank. The nostrils are enlarged and the 

 muscles of the belly come greatly into play. On a damp, hot, 

 sultry day the symptoms are much increased, and may 

 become very alarming, so much so that the animal may even 

 appear to suffer from inflammation of the lungs. Examine 

 the pulse, however, and it will be found that they are beatino- 

 about natural. In heaves there is a loud, hacking, painful, 



