The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-03-02
Broken Wind.

Broken wind in horses generally
comes on gradually, and is preceded by
an attack OF catarrh, chronic cough, or
asthma, especially if the animal is ex-.
posed to such exciting causes as impure
air OF 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 a debilitated condition of
the stomach, in the first place from it's
oyer-work, and in the second from its
distension. It's walls become attenuated.
its powers decreased, and it's nervous
influence partici ates in the general
disturbance, while its functions become
almost destroyed 1t is the same nerve,
the pneumogastric and it's 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 luenced, the
inability extends, and the nervous force
becomes imperfect. The minute bronchi
are supplied with a 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 rer. ormance of such pro-
duces the peculiar double action 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, but 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 eyertion, 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 which the poor an
imal shows on being pressed to perform
extra respiration. ea4
The remote cause of broken wind is
hereditary or constitutional liability, as
well as the remaining sufficiently lone
under the action of causes capable OF
exciting morbid changes in the respira-
tory organs themselves. A certain
form of body is uHquestionably favor,
able to its production, and it is from
this circumstance that it proves heredi-
tary. The narrow, con ned chest, and
the pendent belly which marks low-bred
horses. and gross feeding, all of which
are observed to be- particularly liable 10
the disease, are predispondents' by CON
lining the ordinate acGion of the lungs.
and afford ng no reserve for the inordi-
nate. 1t may be this defect which rem
ders it more common in mares than in
horses, as well as the necessity for more
capacious abdominal viscera.
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 a short and husky one. AS the
disease advances. it becomes more like
a bark, less frequent, perhaps single.
The increased action of the tanks is an
invariable accompaniment, and is no
doubt the true sign; at first only in
creased or deepened, butsoon assuming
the double beat, dilation of the wings Of
the nostrils, and Old exertion dyspfipa.
etc. The dependent abdomen, with all
the symptoms of indigestion, are seldom
absent. while the animal has a most de-
PRAYED appetite. In fact prominent in
every case of broken wind is deranpe-
ment. of the dige =tive organs.
Regarding the treatment of broken
wind, we will simply allude to the
means by which we can pallate or re-
lieve it, so as, if possible, to render a
horse suffering from the disease usefnI.
as for curative means. we have none
Our first object and most important one
is to indu that state of health and
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: BILE, 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 Dir,
Paare'ss z s., IN PYeir1e Farmer.