102 NQN-SPECIPIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



effusion period approaches in order to increase the elimination 

 of fluid, and lessen its entrance into the body cavity. If the 

 amount of effusion is large, puncture of the thoracic cavity with 

 a trocar and cannula may be practised. This operation should 

 be performed carefully, and all possible precautions used against 

 infection of the wound. During the later period of the disease 

 iodide of potassium, iron and bitter tonics should be given. 



Broken-wind, Heaves. — The terms broken-wind and heaves 

 are used in a way to include a number of different diseases of 

 the respiratory organs of the horse. The term heaves is applied 

 almost wholly to an emphysematous condition of the lungs. 

 Broken-wind may include the following diseased conditions : 

 obstruction of the nasal passages by bony enlargements and 

 tumors ; tumors in the pharynx ; enlarged neck glands ; collection 

 of pus in the guttural pouches and paralysis of the left, or both 

 recurrent nerves (roaring). 



The common causes of heaves are pre-existing diseases of 

 the respiratory organs, severe exercise when the animal is not 

 in condition and wrong methods of feeding. Heaves is more 

 common in horses that are fed heavily on dusty timothy and 

 clover hay and allowed to drink large quantities of water after 

 feeding, than in horses that are fed green feeds, graze on 

 pastures or receive prairie hay for roughage. Chronic indiges- 

 tion seems to aggravate the disease. Over-distention of the 

 stomach and intestines due to feeding too much roughage and 

 grain interferes with respiration. Severe exercise when in this 

 condition may result in over-distention, dilation and rupture of 

 the air cells. This is the most common structural change met 

 with in the lungs of horses affected with heaves. It is termed 

 emphysema. 



The common symptoms noted are the double contraction of 

 the muscles of the flank with each expiration, a short, dry cough 

 and the dilated nostrils. The frequent passage of gas is a promi- 

 nent symptom in well-estal)lislicd cases of heaves. Chronic 



