THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 337 



horse had, by this time become so weak that, if he lay, or fell dowu, he 

 could rise no more ; or, if he was up, he would stand trembling, stagger- 

 ing, and threatening to faL every moment. The mouth was dry, the 

 tongue white and the breath fetid ; a discharge of yellow or fetid matter 

 proceeded from the nose and fetid matter from the anus. The duration 

 of the disease did not exceed twelve or twenty-four hours ; or if th« 

 animal lingered on swellings of the head and throat and sheath and 

 scrotum followed, and he died exhausted, or in convulsions. 



Black spots — extravasation — were found in cellular membrane, in the 

 tissue of all the membranes, and on the coats of the stomach. The 

 mesenteric and lymphatic glands were engorged, black and gangrenous. 

 The membrane of the nose and pharynx were highly injected, the lungs 

 were filled with black and frothy blood, or with black and livid spots. 

 The brain and its meninges were unaltered. 



y.I. Diflaculty of Breathing. . 



From whatever source this may arise, whether from some disorgan- 

 ization, or change in the lungs, or obstruction in the air passages ; what- 

 ever the obstruction be, it must first be traced to its cause before good 

 can be done. This is sometimes not eas}^ to do ; the owner must act 

 with judgment. Thick wind often follows pneumonia, and is caused by 

 closing or obliteration (hepatization) of a portion of the lungs. If it does 

 not pass away after the disease which preceded it is entirely cured, it may 

 be mitigated by feeding the animal on sound oats, entirely freed from 

 dust, giving but little hay, that moistened, and avoiding any food that is 

 dusty. Mashes and carrots in Winter suificient to keep the bowels prop- 

 erly open, and turning on prairie pasture in Summer will be indicated. 



Roaring has rendered nearly useless many valuable horses in England j 

 in the United States horses are not subject to it. It is said to be pro^ 

 duced by obstruction in some part of the respiratory canal, most often in 

 the larynx and next in the trachea. Thus chronic cough sometimes ter- 

 minates in roaring. In this country heaves is the most usual termination. 



Xn. Brokeia Wind ; Bellows ; Heaves. 



Causes. — Broken wind is the result both of disease of the lungs and 

 riolent exertions. Feeding on dusty hay and grain are prolific sources of 

 the disease. Where no clover hay is used, the disease is rare. It is 

 mainly confined to horses that have arrived at maturity. A horse fed for 

 days and weeks on dusty hay, and then driven hard, will exhibit heaves, 

 unless his lungs and digestion are extraordinary. This disease is usiially 

 knoAvn in the South under the name of bellows, and in the ^ ^rth a* 

 heaves, either of them expressive of the disease. 



