THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 315 



strain of expiration is performed by two distinct efforts, 

 in one of which the usual muscles operate, in the 

 other the abdominal muscles come into violent action 

 to complete the expulsion ; after which the flanks fall with 

 peculiar force, and the air is again inspired as by a spasm. 

 An auxiliary symptom is the peculiar flatulence of every 

 broken-winded horse ; this is strikingly characteristic of the 

 disordered state of digestion common in these cases, and of 

 the constant thirst which is invariably present. 



The Treatment of broken wind can seldom be more than 

 palliative. Whatever increases the distension of the stomach 

 and bowels aggravates the complaint by increasing the 

 difficulty of expanding the lungs. Therefore avoid stimu- 

 lants, and promote regular evacuations ; abstain from over- 

 distension of the lungs by too violent and too sudden 

 exertions, particularly after eating. By carefully attending 

 to these principal indications, a broken-winded horse may 

 be rendered comfortable to himself and useful to his owner. 

 The food should be regularly given, in moderate quantities 

 only ; but most particularly it should be of such a nature 

 as will contain much nutriment in a small space. Hence 

 corn is more proper than hay, and, above all, a manger 

 food, composed of one part bran, one part bruised beans, 

 and two parts bruised oats, agrees particularly well, if given 

 somewhat moistened. On a quantity of this food no horse 

 will need hay. When they can be got, give also carrots, 

 mangold wurzel, Swedish turnips, parsnips, or cooked 

 potatoes, which feeding will be found to combine both 

 medicine and nutriment, and render little water necessary. 

 Turning out to grass commonly aggravates the symptoms 

 of broken wind ; a neglect of moderate exercise also aggra- 

 vates the complaint. W^ater should be sparingly given, 

 particularly in the working hours ; at night a moderate 

 quantity may be allowed, but on no account let the broken- 

 winded horse drink his fill at a pond or trough. Medicinally, 

 benefit has been received from daily small doses of foxglove ; 

 under these circumstances it has been given to the amount 

 of a scruple ; a piece of rock-salt placed in the manger has 

 seemed to do some good. 



Horse-copers have a mode of what they call "setting" 

 broken wind. Fat, shot, opium — in short, any substance that 

 will act as a sedative ip used, often with a fatal effect on 

 the animal. The test is to take the horse to a trough or 



