560 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



as bad again at night. This condition continues sometimes 

 for months and years. Few persons ever think that this in- 

 dicates any thing specially wrong, but they are sadly mis- 

 taken. It is caused by a disease of the skin, a continued 

 fever which is drying up the scarf or cuticle, and thickening 

 the hide all over the body. It may be located in the skin 

 alone, yet often is caused by a general unhealthy state of 

 the system. It is the beginning of other serious diseases, 

 and is especially injurious to the eye. It is unsoundness of 

 the most dangerous character. 



DEFECTS OP THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 



The respiratory organs are often diseased, and even when 

 apparently sound the eftects of previous disease may remain, 

 though in a latent form, and render a horse much less val- 

 uable than he would otherwise be. Purchasers are in danger 

 of being cheated by having a horse thus unsound imposed 

 upon them. Some of the chronic complaints resulting from 

 diseased respiratory organs are coughs, broken wind, wheez- 

 ing, thumps, etc. These complaints can best be detected by 

 driving or riding the animal for some distance at a rapid 

 rate. If any thing is the matter with these organs, he will 

 show it in his breathing. Dry, dusty feed will, in most 

 cases, bring to light a hidden chronic cough. Examine well 

 your horse before yau buy him or trade for him. 



DEFECTS OF STOMACH AND BOWELS. 



Indigestion and intestinal disturbances are common to the 

 horse, but these, or at least their more violent symptoms, 

 soon pass away. I^t so their effects; a diseased ^nd weak- 

 ened condition of the digestive organs often remains. Many 

 horses are subject to frequent attacks of colic, the conse- 

 quence, of imperfect functions of weakened organs. Others 

 are constantly troubled with looseness of the bowels. In some 

 cases the food is voided but partially digested, portions of hay 

 and grain passing whole. These may be but temporary affec- 

 tions of the bowels, but in some cases remain constant. 



