Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-03-08
Broken Wind.

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an attack Of catarrh. chronic cough, or
asthma especially if the animal is ex-
posed to such exciting causes as impure
air or bad stable management, while it
| is often known to come on without any
symptom of respiratory arrangement
in horses fed on bad forage and allowed
to gorge themselves. The result of this
is to produce debilitated condition of
the stomach, in the first place from it's
overwork, and in the second from its
distension. Its walls become attenuated,
its powers decreased, and its nervous
influence partici ates in the general
disturbance. while its functions be come
almost destroyed. It is the same nerve,
the pneumogastric and its anastomoses,
which supplies the stomach, diaphragm
and bronchial tubes, and it is here we
trace the connection. The whole course
of the nerve becomes in iuenced, the
inability extends, and the nervous force
becomes imperfect. The minute bronchi
are supplied with distinct series of
small muscular fibers, which dilate and
contract the tubes OF each inspiration
and expiration: and it is by their means
that the respiratory action is properly
carried on. BY cutting off their nervous
force paralysis follows, and the tubes
remain stationary to a certain extent,
while the aid of the extra respiratory
muscles have to be called on to remove
the air from the cells and tubes OF the
lungs, and the FER ormance Of such pro-
duces the peculiar double acton of the
flank of broken wind. The cough
which is usually the earliest symptom,
depends for its production on the in
creased bronchial secretion and the i'm
perfect removal of it, giving rise to irri-
tation. The breathing at first is only
shortened, hut as the arrangement con-
tinues. and the muscular tibers remain
unused, from their delicacy and minute
structure. they soon waste or become
atrophied, and perhaps ultimately alb
sorbed, when the disease becomes in
durable and the animal almost useless.
On rapid exertion. the air is not re-
moved or changed, and the unarterial-
lied blood does not pass through the
capillaries of the cell-walls as it should
do, and passive congestion follows, pro-
ducing the dyspn "a which the poor an
imal shows on being pressed to perform
extra respiration.
Amongst the earliest indications of
broken wind we have the cough. which
may be little changed, but gradually
loses that peculiar sound to me, and as
sumes short and husky one. AS the
disease advances, it becomes more like
bark, less frequent, perhaps sing e.
The increased action Of the tanks is an
lnvariable accompaniment, and is no
doubt the true sign: at first only in
creased or deepened, but soon assuming
the double beat, dilation of the wings OF
the nostrils, and Oh exertion dyspn ea,
etc. The dependent abdomen, with all
the symptoms of indigestion, are seldom
absent, while the animal has most de-
PRAYED appetite. In fact. prominent in
every case of broken wind is derange-
ment of the digestive organs.
Regarding the treatment of broken
wind, we will simply allude to the
means by which we can palliate or re-
lleve it. SO as, if possible. to render a
horse suffering from the disease useful;
as for curative means, we have none.
Our first object and most important one
condition. to get the system into the
most perfect working order, which can
alone be done by proper, careful feed
ing, giving such food as will occupy
the smallest bulk, and at the same time
be as nutritious as poss bic, making a
horse almost live on oats. which should
be given in small quantities and often
with as little hay as possible. or even
none. and never allowing the horse to
gorge himself with water. All food |
should be of the best quality, aud regu-
lar exercise is most essential. DR..
Pdaren, 7. s., in Prairie Farmer.
In 1874 the first iron steamship ever |