44 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



will show symptoms of thick wind ; and it has been 

 observed of great feeders who never breathe freely until 

 they have gone a mile or two, or begin to sweat, that they 

 are able to do more work than others that do not labour 

 under the same difficulty. 



" Wheezing " is a sound like an asthmatic person when a 

 little hurried. Wheezing may frequently be heard while 

 at rest in the stable. 



" Whistling," or piping, is a shriller sound than wheezing, 

 but it is only heard after exercise, and that of some 

 continuance. A short gallop up hill is sometimes necessary 

 to develop it, but the whistler is soon distressed. " Never 

 buy a whistler, he cannot improve on your hand, and he is 

 almost sure to get to worse," said Sir Henry Peyton to 

 Nimrod, and the same advice may be given in respect of 

 all these affections of the air passages. 



" Roaring " is not heard when at rest. In the majority it 

 is only developed by exertion, which quickens the breath- 

 ing, and the noise is increased in proportion as the pace is 

 accelerated, though in a few it is audible as soon as put 

 into the trot. Knowing dealers, who wish to prevent the 

 noise from reaching the ears of an inexperienced purchaser, 

 when showing a *' bull " of good action, start the horse a 

 considerable distance before putting him to the gallop, and 

 in returning, slacken the pace, so that the breathing 

 becomes tranquil before the horse reaches the examiner ; 

 this is called " coming the long trot." Many of these 

 lesions are consequences of inflamed lungs, or diseased 

 alterations of the air passages, and most of them are 

 modifications of the same disease. Sometimes they exist 

 in so slight a degree as to be discoverable only by quick 

 and long-continued exertion, but when they are suspected, 

 they should be tried by a brushing gallop, though this is 

 not always allowed. 



We next proceed to search for blemishes and those 

 indications of unsoundness which are apparent to external 

 examination, bearing in mind any symptoms of suspicious 

 appearances in his action that may lead us to suspect 

 particular parts, which should then be subjected to the 

 severest scrutiny. 



Any scars about the head should direct attention to the 

 knees, or they may lead one to suspect there may have 

 been an attack of stumbling or staggers. 



