106 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



HEAVES, OR BROKEN WIND. 



Chronic heaves is that condition of a horse which veterinarians 

 designate as broken wind. In cases of this character, the act of 

 inspiration is followed by a violent heaving motion of the ribs and 

 flanks ; this is the source, probably, from whence the term heaves 

 is derived. 



The disease bears some resemblance to asthma in the human 

 subject, for in each there is nearly the same difficulty in respi- 

 ration, attended with dyspepsia and emaciation ; there is this differ- 

 ence, however — in man there are remissions ; while in the horse 

 with confirmed heaves (broken wind) there is scarcely any cessa- 

 tion. It is quite common, in Massachusetts, to hear horsemen 

 define every case of abdominal respiration as heaves: such are not 

 to be considered, however, as so many cases of broken wind. In 

 order to make out a pure case of the latter, we must have a kind 

 of jerking double flank movement in the process of expiration. 

 Distention of the lungs, or inspiration, must also be followed by a 

 corresponding expansion of the chest and flanks. A slight cough 

 is generally present, which has a wheezing sound, sometimes 

 resembling a sort of grunt, and the subject is a confirmed dys- 

 peptic having a voracious appetite, staring coat, large belly 

 (tympanic), spare muscles, dull miserable look, drooping head, 

 unwilling to travel fast, and when urged to do so, becomes soon 

 exhausted and " used up ; " the excretions also indicate derange- 

 ment of the digestive organs. These are the principal symptoms 

 of broken wind, and we have generally found these present in 

 what is called " heaves" 



Regarding the nature of broken wind — which, however, is a 

 very funny name for a pathological condition of this character — 

 it originates in disease occurring either in the organs of digestion 

 or of respiration ; the former affecting the latter, through the 

 sympathy that is known to exist between them, or else from 

 innutrition — the digestive organs failing to furnish the proper 

 amount of nutrimental matter to supply the respiratory apparatus 

 with its required fuel. The lungs, or rather its air cells, are then 

 dilated, while the respiratory passages and lining membranes are 



