D/SF.ASRS OF I'lIE RESPIRATORY ORCAXS. <;7 



the chest. Indigest'on is also a prominent symjjtom, and inani- 

 tested by a ravenous ajipetite, even for filthy litter, by the fre- 

 quent passage of wind from the bowels, and often by swelling 

 and drum-like resonance of the abdomen. When starting on a 

 journey the subjects pass dung very frequently at first, and after 

 travelling some distance may go much better. Their muscular 

 systems are soft and flabby, and they run down rapidly in active 

 work. Frequent aggravations of the symptoms may be seen in 

 connexion with overloaded stomach, costiveness, a hot, close 

 stable, a thick, muggy atmosphere, or a very severe day's work. 

 The symptoms may be temporarily masked or hidden by 

 restriction in diet, abstinence from water and the use of seda- 

 tives, but there remains an unnatural action of the nostrils, and 

 a full drink of water, and, above all, a free supply of water and 

 hay will bring back the symptoms in all their intensity. 



Treatment. — Turning out on natural pastures or feeding on 

 corn-stalks or other laxative food will relieve, and even cure mild 

 and recent cases. Feeding on dry grain with carrots, turnips, 

 beets, or potatoes, and a very limited suj?ply of water will enable 

 many brol#en-winded horses to do a fair amount of work in 

 comfort. Hay should never be allowed except at night, and 

 then only a handful, clean and sweet The bowels must be 

 kept easy by laxatives (sulphate of soda 2 or 3 oz.), the stable 

 well aired, and sedatives (digitalis, opium, belladonna, hyo- 

 scyamus, stramonium, lobelia) used to relieve the oppression. If 

 a white discharge from the nose co-exists, tonics should be given 

 as for chronic bronchitis, to which wild-cherry bark may be 

 added. Tar water as the exclusive drink is often useful, and a 

 course of carminatives (ginger, caraway, cardamoms, fennel, 

 fcenugrec) may be added with advantage. But nerve tonics, 

 and above all arsenic in 5 grain doses daily, and continued for 

 a month or two, are especially valuable. 



No broken-winded horse should have food or water for from 

 one to two hours before going to work. 



G 



