550 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



rapidly followed by one of effusion, which may go on to such an extent as to 

 constitute water on the chest (hydrothorax). 



The causes are the same as pneumonia and bronchitis (see pages 540, 547). 



The Symptonis differ somewhat in the tenderness on pressure against the 

 ribs, and a difficulty in turning, which is often accompanied with a grunt of 

 pain. In the congestive stage, if the ear is applied to the sides of the chest 

 a friction sound may be detected as of two pieces of paper rubbed together 

 between the fingers, and as the disease progresses the presence of fluid may 

 be made out by a splashing or tinkling sound as of drops of water falling 

 into a well. 



Treatment. — This should be the same as for other inflammatory diseases of 

 the chest (see Pneumonia, p. 547), but there should be no hesitation about the 

 application of mustard, since the diseased tissue is so comparatively near to 

 the skin, the very best results may be anticipated from counter-irritation. 



BROKEN WIND 



A BROKEN-WINDED HORSE can be detected at once by any horseman 

 possessed of experience, from the peculiar and forcible double expiration. 

 Inspiration is performed as usual, then comes a rapid but not violent act 

 of expiration, followed by a forcible repetition of the same, in which all the 

 muscles of respiration, auxiliary and ordinary, are called into play. This 

 is, of course, most marked when the horse has been galloped, but even 

 when he is at rest the double expiration is manifest at almost any ordinary 

 distance from the observer. 



More or less emphysema of the lungs is usually found after death, but in 

 not a few broken-winded horses is it absent, and the cause cannot be stated 

 with certainty. Over and above the residual air which is normal in health, 

 there is in broken wind an increased amount which the single and usual act 

 of expiration fails to expel. The causes are bad and innutritions food — musty 

 hay, outsides of hay-ricks, chopped straw and other food entailing a large 

 amount of digestion for very small results. It is also largely hereditary. 



Treatment. — Though no hope of curing broken wind can be held out, there 

 are many horses doing good work while badly affected with it. The symptoms 

 may be very much amelioi-ated by judicious feeding and management. N"o 

 large quantity of food or water should be allowed at one time. All the food 

 given should be damped, and a bed provided, such as sawdust, or peat-moss, 

 that the animal will not eat : instead of dry hay, cut grass and clover, lucerne, 

 rye, carrots, boiled linseed or linseed oU mixed with the kibbled corn. 

 Treacle or molasses is a favourite remedy in France, and there is no doubs- 

 that it is beneficial, as also occasional dosing with tar and fats, as suet ana 

 lard. 



THICK WIND 



Thick wind is the horseman's term for any defective respiration unac- 

 companied by a noise, or by the signs of emphysema just alluded to. It 

 usually follows pneumonia, but it may arise from chronic bronchitis, occa- 

 sioning a thickening of the mucous membrane lining the bronchial tubes 



