DISEASES OF THE LUNGS 13 



is a fine crepitus as well as an increased sound or resonance on percussion. 

 In advanced cases flatulency is a marked symptom, and wind is frequently 

 ejected from behind in the act of coughing. As the disease progresses, and 

 the lungs undergo expansion, the walls of the chest become rounded in con- 

 sequence of the ribs being forced outward. Premature distress invariably 

 attends upon exertion, and the capacity for work is much abridged. AVhere 

 work is enforced the body shrinks, while the abdomen becomes perceptibly 

 larger than normal. 



Treatment. In no disease can so much be done for a horse by 

 judicious dieting as in broken wind. Many a subject of it will perform 

 useful work without undue distress for years in the care of a good horse- 

 man, the same animal being practically useless when transferred to the care 

 of one who does not prepare and administer the food secundem artem. In 

 these cases it is especially desirable to give nutritious food in small bulk 

 and at comparatively short intervals, so that the patient may be well 

 nourished but never distended. Every particle of dust should be separated 

 from the corn by the sieve or other means, and no hay with a suspicion of 

 must allowed, and even the best should only be given in small amount and 

 always in the form of chaff previously damped in order to ensure proper 

 grinding of the corn. Long hay may be dispensed with altogether, or, if 

 given as an occasional treat, should be first steamed and the animal allowed 

 to eat it at night or at a time when his services will not be required soon 

 afterwards. Linseed is the food par excellence for a broken-winded horse, 

 and although it is found that many tire of it, it must be dished up in 

 different ways and a taste for it cultivated. It is often spoiled in the 

 cooking, being allowed to cake in the bottom of the saucepan, and the 

 novice invariably putting too much linseed in proportion to water and 

 hurrying the process. Linseed -oil and cod -liver -oil in small quantities 

 may be mixed with the food once or twice daily, or every other day; some 

 horses become very fond of both, and show a distaste for their food without 

 it. With regard to medicinal agents, these should be reserved for occasions 

 when climatic conditions or other causes have induced unusual distress. 

 The sedative agents recommended for asthma may be resorted to in this 

 disorder, and usually result in abatement of the symptoms, but the diges- 

 tive system must be our principal care, and those agents should be chosen 

 which are most likely to disencumber the bowels, restore tone, and increase 

 constitutional vigour. An occasional dose of aperient medicine has a most 

 beneficial effect in relieving the embarrassed breathing, retarding the pro- 

 gress of the disease, and the same may be said of allowing ample time for 

 digestion between feeding and working. The mineral acids and vegetable 

 bitters are especially employed for this purpose, and for allaying the dirfi- 



