THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 313 



The Symptoms of thick wind are sufficiently known to 

 anyone at all conversant with horses. The capacity of the 

 air-cells being diminished renders it necessary for the air 

 to be more frequently taken in, because, being acted on by 

 a less surface, the blood is not thoroughly oxygenated ; and 

 a sufficient number of air-cells not being expanded, the 

 animal makes hasty inspirations to remedy the default. 

 The force with which these are affected occasions the sound 

 so well known as the distinguishing mark of thick wind. 

 In this affection, the obstruction to both being equal, the 

 inspirations and expirations are alike, which serves to dis- 

 tinguish it from broken wind. Thick is, however, very apt 

 to degenerate into broken wind. 



The Treatm^ent of thick wind can seldon be more than 

 palliative, for, once established, it remains permanent. The 

 remedial means are more in the hands of the proprietor 

 than of the surgeon. The food must be moderate in 

 quantity, and of such a kind as will occupy the least pos- 

 sible space. No hay should be allowed, and as thick-winded 

 horses are gross feeders, the muzzle ought to be put on as 

 soon as the manger has been emptied. 



Broken Wind. — This peculiar affection has long excited 

 the attention of veterinarians. The older writers indulged 

 in the most extravagant notions respecting it On the Con- 

 tinent it has occupied, in later times, the research of many 

 eminent veterinarians, but with little satisfactory issue. 

 It has been attributed to external and internal causes, to a 

 defect and to a superabundance of vital energy, to altered 

 structure of the heart, of the lungs, of the diaphragm, the 

 stomach, the liver, etc. It is injury with some, nervousness 

 with others, and simple distention with a third. Among 

 our own writers the discrepancy is equally great. Gibson 

 attributed it to an enlargement of the pulmonary mass 

 generally; Dr. Lower to a rupture of the phrenic nerve. 

 But in later times it has been mostly attributed to structural 

 change. 



The cause of broken wind is hereditary or constitutional 

 predisposition. A certain form of body is unquestionably 

 favourable to its production, and it is from this circum- 

 stance that it proves hereditary. The narrow, confined 

 chest, and the pendant belly which mark low-bred hoi ses 

 and gross feeders, predispose towards the affection. It 

 may be the subjecting horses to a long-continued, unhealthy 



