BROKEN-WIND. 181 



object of all this is, that his respiratory powers — above all, 

 his diaphragm — may play as unencumbered as possible ; 

 while, at the same time, his body is lightened, and his stamina 

 supported. Give him a peck and a half of oats a day, and 

 not more than six or seven pounds of hay, and let that be 

 moistened with water, and be of the best upland quality — 

 no clover, nor sainfoin, nor lucern hay, nor, in fact, any 

 gross and filling rack-meat — and let him have his hay after he 

 has done his work, and, for the most part, his Avater too. 

 Beans are good for him ; and so are carrots and turnips. 

 Yet has it often been remarked, how well broken-winded 

 horses work when fed on green food, even of almost any 

 description — vetches, clover, lucern, &c. ; which at first 

 appears like a paradox to the above : but, no ! — this arises 

 from the easily digestible and laxative properties of the 

 recent vegetable, insomuch that it remains but a short time 

 within the stomach, and is, during any bodily exertion, 

 speedily ejected out of the bowels. It must be borne in mind, 

 however, that green food would not be admissible to a horse 

 required to be kept in hard condition. To horses much 

 troubled with flatulence, and who, from the appearance and 

 offensiveness of their dung, are evidently the subjects of 

 indigestion, 1 know of no food that in general seems so 

 suitable as carrots : other roots — such as Swedish and 

 common turnips, potatoes, and mangel wurzel — may likewise 

 be given, and it will be found, I have understood, a great 

 improvement to boil or steam them first. Finally, let the 

 pace be slow and moderate at the beginning : by degrees, as 

 the horse empties himself, it may be increased, in which 

 manner are the animal's fullest powers, with least embar- 

 rassment, called forth. Exercise or work of some sort is so 

 important that it cannot be remitted for a single day with- 

 out his food filling and so harassing the broken- winded horse. 

 NiMROD informs us that, in the stables of the fast 

 coaches, horses are only allowed half a truss of hay (28 lbs.) 

 each for seven days, — but that they get a bushel and a half 

 of corn (about 60 lbs.) each, besides ; — and that a broken- 

 winded horse is now scarcely heard of among them. " I 



