HAT ASTHMA. 



291 



directly upon tlie nerves which, are distributed to the stomach 

 and the lungs, I am unable to state. High-dried or mow- 

 burnt hay wOl also produce it in many instances, especially in 

 those horses which are delicate and well-bred. In other cases, 

 again, I am satisfied that I have traced the cause of the malady 

 to the presence of the grass Anthooo Odoratwm, a figure of which 

 is given in the annexed en- 

 graving. I am satisfied of 

 the fact now stated, because 

 of the following reasons : — 

 1st. The effluvium from this 

 grass is well known to pro- 

 duce what is called Hay 

 Asthma in the human being ; 

 other kinds of grass are also 

 known occasionally to pro- 

 duce it, but this is the most 

 common cause. 2ndly. On 

 numerous occasions I have 

 found it more than usually 

 abundant in the hay of horses 

 afiected with the disease, such 

 hay being, at the time, in all 

 other respects unexception- 

 able — that is, free from dust 

 or mouldiness, and not mow 

 burnt. 



While treating upon the 

 causes of this diseased I may 

 allude to the well known fact of hunters being occasionally 

 brought up after a run at grass during the summer months, 

 and pronounced to be broken-winded. The chances however 



Pig. 20. 

 Anthox Anthiun Odoratum. 



