S6 
ON BROKEN WIND IN A COW. 
Having been called to see a horse, the property of a respect- 
able farmer a few miles from hence, that had, in taking a fence, 
lacerated the extensor tendon of the near hind leg where it passes 
over the fetlock joint, on my arrival in the yard, 1 found that 
they were milking the cows. The first cow that I had to pass by 
was an old Jersey-bred one. It was standing ruminating, but I 
was struck with the very embarrassed state of it’s breathing. 
While I was thus engaged in watching the old cow, the owner 
came, and hurried me away to the stable to see the horse. Having 
gone through the necessary manipulations there, I was again 
anxious to visit my horned friend. She certainly ruminated na- 
turally enough, and appeared to be in good general health, and 
her inspirations were performed with apparent ease; but the ex- 
piration was a laboured, forced, or jerked one — in fact, precisely 
resembling the breathing of a most intensely broken-winded 
horse. 
I inquired how long she had been in this state, and was told 
that some months ago she had had a cough, and the quantity of milk 
that she yielded was much diminished. I likewise was informed 
that I had prescribed for her, but did not see her. I found, on 
referring to my note-book, that, from the owner’s description, I 
concluded it was chronic bronchitis, and prescribed accordingly. 
She had the medicine which I sent ; the cough abated consider- 
ably, and the secretion of milk returned as before, or nearly 
so : but she had occasionally coughed ever since, and for a month 
or two the owner ’had noticed something strange in her breathing ; 
yet, as she gave her milk in full quantity, and did not appear ill, 
he had thought nothing more about it. 1 have paid her several 
visits since that time, and the same phenomena are still evinced ; 
in fact, it is a decided case of broken wind. 
I believe, and indeed I am sure, that they who have ventured 
to assert that this is a lesion or disease that does not exist in 
horned cattle, were they to see the case in question, would admit 
its existence. She is now at grass, and in calf ; but the present 
owner tells me he intends selling her when she has calved. I 
shall not, I hope, lose sight of her ; and if she should be fattened 
and slaughtered in this neighbourhood, I will examine the lungs, 
and indeed, all the viscera, the result of which I shall feel proud 
in forwarding to you. 
Perhaps, Sir, you will not think it out of place for me now to 
hazard an observation or two relative to broken wind, as it is 
designated. That the term is vague, and, in many cases, totally 
inapplicable, I need not in the present advanced state of veteri- 
nary knowledge assert ; for, certainly many cases exist in which 
there is no rupture or broken air-cells. I am somewhat of opinion 
