98 BROKEN WIND. 



BROKEN WIND 



Broken Wind is one amongst the number ol 

 incurable diseases to which the horse is subject. When 

 affected with this disease, he is disagreeable to his 

 rider, and is of but little value, however beautiful or 

 elegant he may be in his appearance. All the boasted 

 pretensions of farriers to cure, are vain and frivolous, 

 since their utmost skill, now and then, can only palliate 

 the symptoms, and mitigate their violence. 



It is easy to discover a broken winded horse. By 

 giving him a little brisk exercise, he will draw up his 

 flanks and drop them suddenly, breathe with great 

 difficulty, and make a disagreeable wheezing noise. 

 The seat of the disease appears, from dissection, to be 

 in the lungs ; the heart and lungs being found of twice 

 their natural size, which prevents their performing their 

 office with ease, in the action of respiration. 



Broken wind is sometimes produced in a horse by 

 excessive fatigue, heavy drafts, sudden changes from 

 heat to cold, and other cruel treatment. It would be 

 advisable to dispose of such horses at any price, as 

 they are not worth their feeding. 



This complaint, I believe, does not admit of perfect 

 cure: but by much care may be greatly relieved. 

 The food should be compact and nutritious, such as 

 corn and old hay. Carrots are excellent in this case, 

 as are paismps and beet roots, probably on account of 

 the saccharine matter they contain. I have heard 

 that molasses has been given in the water (which 

 should be in very small quantities) with very great 

 .«;'.iccess. Some have used tar water ; others praise 



