COUGH. 37 



The broken-winded cough is the one emitted in the 

 disorder we call "broken-wind/^ It is of itself so com- 

 pletely characteristic of that disease that we require no 

 other test ; and withal it is quite distinct in its sound from 

 all other coughs. I defer all description of it until the 

 subject of broken wind shall come under notice. 



Tendency of cough. — There being several diseases 

 which are on occasions ushered in by cough, it is difficult to 

 say, in the first instance, when a horse is brought to us with 

 recent cough, to what it may owe its origin, or, symptom- 

 atically, be leading. It may be but the forerunner of simple 

 catarrh ; it may usher in laryngitis, bronchitis, pleurisy, 

 pneumonia, &c. On the other hand, it may continue without 

 the manifestation of any other disease, as a simple cough, 

 only of present consequence insomuch as it proves trouble- 

 some and annoying, especially during work. In allowing 

 this cough to run on, however, and particularly in suffering 

 the animal to work with it, we run a risk of spreading the 

 irritation already existing in the air-passages, and at the 

 same time producing febrile disorder in the system. Should 

 this not follow, we shall in all probability, by neglecting the 

 cough, have it become " settled,^^ or " established,^^ or 

 "chronic,^^ and in that form more difficult than ever to 

 remove ; or, when removed, extremely likely to recur, and 

 especially in the winter season. What may result from the 

 continued irritation of chronic cough — one which is some- 

 times better, sometimes worse, or that disappears in summer 

 and returns in winter — it is impossible to say : much will 

 depend on the condition, sound or unsound, of the animars 

 lungs; a horse in whom those viscera continue healthy may 

 have a cough for years, and never experience any ill effects 

 from it ; in another, with unsound lungs, it may lay the 

 foundation for thick or short wind, or for pulmonary con- 

 sumption. There is a notion abroad that a short cough is 

 likely to " end in broken wind :" I cannot, liowever, 

 altogether subscribe to this prognosis. 



The treatment of cough must be directed to the 

 fountain-head of the maladv, to the seat of disease or irrita- 



