BROKEN WIND. 
101 
produce similar cases, at least within my own observation; and 
the only way I can account for it, is, that there was a greater 
scarcity of grass in 1826 than in either of the other two seasons. 
The Horses that had the disease were young, froni two to four 
years of age : the scarcity of grass in all probability induced 
them to feed on the haws and pieces of thorns. 
BROKEN WIND. 
THE following case was communicated by a Surgeon in Devon¬ 
shire, a gentleman who has paid much attention to Veterinary 
Study. 
A little mare of my father’s was many years since ridden 
rather sharply for half-a-dozen miles. This was in summer; 
consequently she was in all probability full of grass. Be that 
as it may, she soon after exhibited the symptoms of broken 
wind. At length she died rather suddenly, whilst standing in 
the stable. I oug^ht to have mentioned that the cough was the 
most curious apology for a cough you ever heard : it resembled 
nothing so much as the short breathing of a child under pulmo¬ 
nary inflammation. On examination, it was found that the 
diaphragm was lacerated on the left side through its whole ex¬ 
tent, throwing the two cavities into one. The laceration ap¬ 
peared recent; but I should think it must have been in part 
old : what should you say ? The lungs were dark-coloured and 
collapsed: the edge of each lobe to such a degree, that those 
parts were not inflatible, though air could be made to pass 
when they were cut through. No air underneath the pleura 
pulmonalis. Heart and large vessels quite healthy. Posterior 
surface of the diaphragm on the left side shewed signs of former 
inflammation : its peritoneal covering had become altered in 
structure, and was here and there studded with coagulable 
lymph. The examination was made by my father.* I wrote 
him a long list of observations on the case ; but I shall not 
send you any until I have heard what you have to say : so re¬ 
mit me your thoughts on the subject.” ‘ 
ft 
It appears from the above account that the mare had been 
ft 
t 
* Wiio is also a Surgeon. 
