20 TUE DISEASES OF HOUSES, 



great thirst. Flatulence is also a troublesome and annoying accompani- 

 ment of broken wind ; whilst the coat, which in so many cases quickly indi- 

 cates a change in Jjealth, looks ragged and dirty, and the whole aspect of 

 the animal is dejected. When driven fast, or the strength overtaxed, tho 

 nostrils distend, the breathing becomes more laboured and difficult, 

 and the animal gives evidence of great distress. 



To put such a horse to any other than slow and easy work is refined 

 torture, which every thinking person with any pretensions to humanity 

 will be ashamed to inflict. What would be thought of compelling a man 

 suffering from asthma to run for miles at his utmost speed, or to wheel 

 heavily weighted barrows, requiring the putting forth of his greatest 

 strength, under the influence of the lash or the goad, applied heedless of 

 his sufferings ? Yet that is the treatment the equine sufferer is too often 

 subjected to. 



Prevention is in all cases better than cure, and most cases of broken 

 wind may be prevented by sensible treatment. Let the stable corre- 

 spond to the requirements of a healthy state, in cleanliness, ventilation, 

 and general comfort ; let his food be in form and quality such as his 

 organisation and the demands on his services require ; and never ride or 

 drive him whilst his stomach is distended with food or water — even if com- 

 pelled to travel, time will be gained by giving time for digestion as well as 

 eating— or at least let his pace be of the slowest, rather than inflict such a 

 misery on the beast, and thereby destroy the value of your own property. 

 Horses that have been out on rich pasture or clover should not be 

 galloped, nor are these animals capable of sustaining a fast pace without 

 danger to the wind ; a horse to gallop far must be in a trained condition. 

 The reason that gentlemen's horses do not suffer from broken wind 

 as those of farmers and others do, is not only that, being more highly 

 bred, they are of a class less liable to it, but also that they are better 

 stabled, better groomed, and generally fed, and otherwise treated on 

 more rational principles. I am not aware that there is any cure for 

 broken wind, although, of course, in such a tempting field many are 

 the pretenders who say their nostrums will do so. The measures to be 

 adopted in such cases are therefore palliative, and these, if persisted in, 

 will keep the animal useful whilst relieving his sufferings. 



As already said, the horse must not be put to fast or heavy work 5 

 feed six times a day when convenient, instead of three or four times — that 

 is, divide the usual four feeds into six ; let the food be of the best quality, 

 and tho principal part of it in a concentrated form, consisting of oats and 

 beans, bran, and good cut straw, the whole slightly damped ; in addition, 

 sliced carrots or other roots, with a small proportion only of good hay, 

 given morning and evening. Where the horse has not water ad libitum, it 

 should be given in smaller quantities and at more frequent intervals 

 than is usual under ordinary circumstances. 



As an aid to digestion, the following powders may be occasionally resorted 

 to with advantage : 



