CHAP. I.] MOULTING,. AFFECTS THE LUNGS. 22\ 



to their effects, and does not presently recollect all 

 that is there said on this topic. 



One prolific source of the disorder termed a 

 cold, is found in the shedding of the coat in spring 

 and in autumn, a process of nature always attended 

 with a certain degree of debility or general weak- 

 ness. Hence it is that the animal sweats profusely 

 upon the least exertion ; and, being in this state 

 suffered to stand (harnessed perhaps) in the open 

 air to cool, the sweating is too suddenly stopped, 

 and he gets a cold at least. That the lungs should 

 suffer the soonest of any other organ is not at all 

 astonishing : the very great exertions made by the 

 lungs in the business of progression, is much in- 

 creased by adhesions and other obstructions to the 

 action of its several parts ; and this, added to their 

 exposure externally, and the constant inhalation of 

 fresh, cold, damp air — altogether the prevalence of 

 pulmonary affections in every varied stage ought no 

 longer to be matter of surprise to any person, how- 

 ever casually he may look at the matter. 



The horse is subject to cold or catarrh at every 

 season of the year, and some animals retain a 

 cough all the year round, hence termed chronic, 

 other some during their natural lives. But the cold 

 which is contracted in the spring differs materially 

 from that of the autumn. The former attacks the 

 animal when he is full of hard meat and gross feed- 

 ing — " full of humours," according to a homely 

 but intelligent phrase, — and a malignant sore throat 

 or an inflammation of the lungs is the ultimate 



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