216 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



by no means natural, for it is not done by a gradual sinking of the 

 sides, but it takes place at once, with a kind of a jerk, as though 

 the horse were sighing ; and then a third effort takes place by a 

 more slow drawing up of the muscles of the belly and flanks, to 

 press out the remaining air. Broken wind destroys the fecundity 

 of the mare, and hence argues permanent alteration of structure ; it 

 is also always incurable, but horses may be rendered very useful 

 that have it, by feeding them very nutritiously, but with food much 

 condensed in bulk. Little hay should be allowed, and that little 

 should be wet ; water in any other way should be given but spa- 

 ringly, for which they are however very greedy ; from which circum- 

 stance, as well as that they are peculiarly flatulent, we learn, that 

 the vitiation of the lungs is either aggravated by the deranged state 

 of the digestive organs ; or, which is more probable, that the diges- 

 tive powers become weakened from the state of the lungs. 



39. Diseases of the belly. Inflamed stomach seldom attacks the 

 horse as an idiopathic affection, but it is not unfrequent for the 

 stomach to become inflamed by mineral poison as well as rendered 

 inert by vegetable ones. 



40. Mineral poisons inflame the stomach acutely, and produce 

 excessive distress, and cold sweats ; the animal lies down, rolls, 

 gets up again, looks short round to his ribs, stamps with his fore 

 feet, and his pulse beats quick and short. When arsenic or corro- 

 sive sublimate have occasioned the malady, a viscid mucus distils 

 from the nose and mouth, and the breath is foetid. When copper 

 in the form of vitriolic salts, or verdigris has been given, to the 

 foregoing symptoms are usually added ineffectual attempts to vomit. 

 Immediately after the poison is discovered, pour down two ounces 

 of sulphuretted potash, in a quart of water; or in the absence of 

 that, an ounce of common potash in the same quantity of water : 

 or, when no better substitute is at hand, even strong soap suds are 

 advisable. Mineral poisons have also another mode of acting, and 

 are often received into the constitution, neither by design to do 

 mischief, nor by mistake, but are purposely given as remedies. 

 In this way, boln mercury and arsenic are frequently given for 

 worms, glanders, farcy, &c. in daily doses, which, when even of 

 considerable magnitude, occasion for many days no inconvenience ; 

 all at once, however, the constitution becomes fully saturated with 

 the poison, and although before diffused throughout the blood, it 

 now appears to return and act on the stomach to the great surprise 

 of the owner. In these cases the symptoms are not usually so 

 violent as in the former instance, but they are equally fatal. A 



