36 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



or double action, the respiratory muscles appearing as if 

 interrupted in the act of expelling the air, and then the 

 flank drops suddenl}^, it is a symptom of broken wind. 

 His cough should then be tried. The cough of a broken- 

 winded horse is a peculiar, low, hollow grunt, difficult to 

 describe, but when once heard easily recognised. 



Cough. — The cough can generally be elicited by pinching 

 the larynx or trachea. This, however, is not an infallible test. 

 We have met with sound as well as broken-winded horses 

 that cannot be made to cough at all. In these cases, when 

 there is any irregularity in the movement of the flank, 

 which would lead to the suspicion of broken wind, and 

 there is unusual hardness of the windpipe, which does 

 not give way on pinching, it may be taken as a symptom 

 of disorganisation in addition to the probability of broken 

 wind. 



Mange. — Should the hair be rubbed oflf in some places, 

 especially about the head, flanks, and tail, or he is observed 

 rubbing himself against the sides of the stall, there is 

 danger of his being mangy. In this case his coat will be 

 found rough and staring. 



Temper. — The absence of the vices of kicking and 

 biting may be inferred from the manner of the groom 

 when entering the stall, and by the quiet method with 

 which he unclothes and dusts him over, and combs out 

 his mane and tail. If he be a biter, his head will probably 

 be tied short to the neck, or the groom will seize hold of 

 him short by the halter or bridle, sometimes giving him 

 a shake or looking sternly at him. Desire to see his hind 

 and fore feet, and by the manner in which he permits the 

 groom to lift them, a guess may be made as to his quietness 

 to groom his heels, or in shoeing. 



The Eyes. — While the horse is in the act of being led 

 out of the stable to the light, closel}^ observe his manner 

 and action. If the ears move in quick changes of direction, 

 as if alarmed at every noise, and he hangs back on the 

 halter, raising his feet higher than ordinary, and putting 

 them down as if fearful and uncertain of his step, it leads 

 us to suspect his eyes, though sometimes these symptoms 

 will be observed when the eyes are perfect if the stable 

 has deen a dark one. 



Standing, Grogginess. — When the horse is shown out, 

 notice if he stand firm on his feet, with his weight thrown 



