78 YETERINAKY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



Etiology. — Horses with narrow chests and protuberant bellies, if also 

 gross feeders, are especially subject to this affection. Sometimes it grad- 

 ually steals on a horse, commencing with chronic cough, whilst at other 

 times it comes on suddenly, perhaps after hard work, with an overloaded 

 stomach; and sometimes it occurs without obvious cause. Improper 

 feeding; coarse, woody hay; not sufficient variety in food, or excessive 

 amounts of it. Indigestion from any cause. G-reedy feeders, and horses 

 with a depraved appetite, who are specially liable to suffer from indiges- 

 tion. 



Symptoms. — The prominent sign of heaves is a double action of the 

 flanks, caused by the inspiration of air into the lungs being performed 

 with ease, while the expiration is made by two apparent efforts, at the 

 conclusion of which the muscles relax, and the flanks fall with peculiar 

 force. 



During catarrhal affections the disease is often temporarily increased, 

 and also at sudden changes of the weather, especially during fogs and 

 easterly winds. 



Treatment. — The peculiar symptom of flatulence, which is present 

 in every broken-winded horse, shows pretty clearly that in the great ma- 

 jority of cases the disease is due to a disordered state of the digestive 

 organs, rather than to previous disease of the lungs. 



As regards treatment in incipient cases, especially in those which 

 result from derangement of the stomach, there is reason to hope that re- 

 moval of the causes and reversal of the conditions which have induced 

 the malady, may check its progress, although we must not hope altogether 

 to get rid of the disease. Therefore careful feeding and watering, and 

 regular exercise are essential. 



But when heaves has become chronic, whether it has arisen from in- 

 flammatory attacks on the respiratory organs, or from indigestion, or 

 from emphysema — where, in short, any alteration has taken place in the 

 structure of the lungs — the disease is obviously incurable, and active 

 treatment is worse than useless. The best care, the greatest attention to 

 diet, grooming, ventilation, and exercise are needed. A broken-winded 

 horse sTiould never be left idle for a day. When working, do not allow 

 him to drink immoderately; a little oatmeal stirred in the water will 

 make it better for him. Give a pint of linseed oil occasionally, if neces- 

 sary to keep the bowels open. 



Professor Law recommends: 



