l98 BROKEN-WIJMD. 



pear to have a peculiarly beneficial effect on the respiratory 

 system. 



Many horses become broken- winded even in the straw-yard. 

 Keeping the stomach constantly distended to get enough nutriment 

 from such poor feed, and consequently habitually pressing on the 

 lungs, the latter are easily ruptured when the horse plays with 

 his companions. 



The pursive or broken-winded horse should be exercised daily 

 By attention to this and to his feeding he may be rendered com- 

 fortable to himself, and no great nuisance to his owner. Occa- 

 sional physic, or alterative medicine, will often give considerable 

 relief where the broken-winded animal has been urged unpre- 

 pared, or with a stomach full of food, on a journey, and is suffer^ 

 ing the consequences of it. 



Thick- wind and broken- wind exist in various degrees, and with 

 many shades of difference. They have assumed various names. 



Pipers make a shrill noise when in quick action. This is a 

 species of roaring. The wheezer utters a sound not unlike that 

 of an asthmatic person when a little hurried. This can be heard 

 even when the horse is at rest in the stable. The whistler utters 

 a shriller sound than the wheezer, but only when in exercise, and 

 that of some continuance. A sharp gallop up hill will speedily 

 detect it. It is a great nuisance to the rider, and such a horse 

 becomes speedily distressed. 



When the obstruction seems to be principally in the nose, the 

 horse loudly puffs and blows, and the nostrils are dilated to the 

 utmost, while the flanks are comparatively quiet. This animal 

 is said to be a HiGH-BLowEa.* With all his apparent distress, 

 he otten possesses great speed and endurance. The sound is un- 

 pleasant, but the lungs may be perfectly sound. 



Every horse violently exercised on a full stomach, or when 

 overloaded with fat, will grunt almost like a hog ; but there are 

 some horses who wiU at all times emit it, if suddenly touched with 

 the whip or spur. They are called Grunters, and should be 

 avoided. It is the consequence of previous disease, and is fre- 

 quently followed by thick or broken-wind, or roaring.f 



* Eclipse (the English horse of that name), perhaps as good a horse as 

 ever run, was a high-blower. — Am. Ed. 



f Note hy Mr. Spooner. — The term piper is applied solely to a broken- 

 winded horse, and not to any variety of roart^. Tlie terms wheezing and 

 whistling are simply varieties of roaring, and express the noise made in the 

 act of respiration. [Mr. Spooner's description rf the pathology and treat- 

 ment of broken-wind offers nothing of importance that is not found in the 

 text.1 



