90 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



work, is a very common cause of heaves. Certain 

 kinds of timothy hay seem to be notorious for pro- 

 ducing it. Good, clean straw and clover hay, when 

 it is fed sparingly, is much better for horses than 

 pure timothy hay. If heaving horses are fed largely 

 on oats with very little hay, and watered before 

 being fed, and not put to work for an hour at least, 

 they will do a fair day's work. Gamgee says that 

 heaves follows the introduction of artificial grasses. 

 Symptoms: When fully developed it is easily rec- 

 ognized and is so well marked that it cannot be niis- 

 taken. The air is easily drawn in, but there seems 

 to be a difficulty in expelling it, and it takes a 

 double effort to do it, causing the animal to heave. 

 In the early stages it is not so easy to detect it. 

 Cough is often a forerunner of it. The cough is 

 peculiar. It is short and suppressed, as if it was 

 averted in the expulsion, and is often accompanied 

 by a forcible expulsion of gas from the anus. It 

 seems to follow the slightest exercise, even the act 

 of drinking will bring it on. It is more trouble- 

 some after a full meal and a liberal allowance of 

 water. Indigestion and an unhealthy appear- 

 ance of the animal, the intestines enlarge and the 

 belly drops down. The appetite may not be im- 

 paired, but there is want of assimilation and the 

 animal does not get the good of the food it con- 

 sumes, therefore heavy horses are usually weak, 

 and when put to hard work very soon give out. A 

 confirmed broken-winded horse is only fit for slow, 

 light work. Treatment: Feed so as not to over- 

 load the stomach; allow a little hay to be eaten 



