691 IRISH CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
I have fonnd in the profession that there are no standard or satis¬ 
factory conclusions come to. I have taken much trouble myself to 
investigate the subject, and I have still doubts regarding its true 
nature, not that our literature has been scanty in dealing with it, 
for all our authors have devoted a large portion of tlieir space and 
given the subject, it would appear, more than ordinary considera¬ 
tion. For me to enter fully into each of the different theories and 
existing opinions would occupy a lengthened paper itself, and I 
will, therefore, condense my remarks as much as possible. 
The name itself, Mr. Percivall tells us, is probably due to the 
circumstance of horses affected with it being observed constantly 
“breaking wind,” in the vulgar sense we ordinarily use the phrase, 
although the late Professor Coleman considered it arose from the 
idea that something in the lung was actually broken. To my mind 
I have always imagined it must have arisen from the peculiar 
respiration which may be termed either double or broken ; however, 
it is a matter of little importance. It is a name for which as yet 
we have found no substitute, and which is at all times a handy 
one. 
The pathology of broken wind, by the greater portion of the 
profession, has been accepted as consisting of ruptured air-cells; 
and we have it handed to us from some of our highest veterinary 
authorities, and that up to a recent date. The theory I admit is a 
most plausible one, and which may in some cases be correct, but I 
am satisfied in the majority of instances we must look farther to 
account for the abnormal symptoms or at least for their production. 
Is it possible that sitice the days of Bracey Clark’s investigations, in 
1795, when the science was only in its infancy, that we have 
nothing new to offer to our improving profession? Some few have 
ventured new opinions, but had so little followers that it there 
ended—withal, the subject seems to drop short and remain an un¬ 
decided and unfinished question. 
For my own opinions I can say little more, excepting that I may 
have some here to-night who may accept the ideas which I have 
to offer as satisfactory ; and I shall be proud if it only was the 
means of inducing others to investigate the subject deeper and 
bring them forth in a more developed form, and especially as my 
observations have been principally confined to examinations during 
life. 
I have already said that broken wind may depend on emphy¬ 
sema, but it is now an admitted fact that both vesicular and inter¬ 
lobular emphysema can exist, and that, to a great extent, without 
any of the symptoms of broken wind being present. To the 
digestive organs I look for the cause, from the following facts, that 
broken wind is always seen in animals wdiich have a voracious ap¬ 
petite, have narrow, bad-formed chests, and pendent abdomens 
(commonly called pot-bellies), are found in horses which suffer 
from indigestion and flatulence ; and lastly is most common in 
mares. 
Racehorses and hunters are seldom the victims of broken wind. 
