Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-28
Heaves i'm Horses.

"Heaves" is the well-known common
name for very prevalent disease OF
the respiratory organs of the horse
Although it is so common, its nature
and character are but little understood
One prominent fact in regard TO it Is q
key TO its origin and its nature; this is
that it prevails only where clover hay
is used and is unknown where clover i
not in use. 1t is called 'broken wind''
in England, and is there quite as fire.
quent as it is in Eastern America. On
the plains it is unknown excepting rs
it may be found in horses brought from
the East and already affected by- it. But
then the change of food soon relieves
the animal, which then suffers from the
effects of the disorder very little. and
then only when hard driven. The cause
of IL is supposed to be wholly mechan-
ical at first, but this common impress
sion is probably not wholly correct, and
the Rlimentary effects, so to speak. of
the common food of horses may have a
considerable influence upon the condi-
ton of the animal, and result in disor-
der of the lungs, which will produce
all the symptoms which are known as
heaves. These are simply shortness of
breath or difficulty of breathing, which
is shown by the violent action of the
nostrils, the heaving of the tanks,
and the evident distress of tie
animal under unusual exertion or when
the weather is damp. close and warm
Clover hay is exceedingly dusty. The
broken leaves and blossoms, and the
very common moldiness or mustiness
produced by the unskillful curing of the
clover, either by over-drying it or put.
ting it away too green in damp wealth
er. make the hay full of dust. This
dusty hay, given loose and dry to
horses, fills the air passages and lungs
with an exceedingly Irritating sub
stance, which causes constant coughing
and an infammatory condition OF the
sensitive membrane lining these all
passages. The cough produces per.
manent spasmod C act on, which occurs
and becomes more violent upon every
fresh occasion, and in time the mem
brane becomes thickened and so offers
obstruction TO the passage of the air to
and from the lungs. When this has
progressed to a certain stage every ex-
pansion of the lungs produces the dis
tressing spasmodic action as well as
intense muscular action to force a suf
ficient supply of air through the con-
tracted passages. Heavy feeding. too.
with bulky food. by extending the stom.
ach, causes this organ 10 press unon
the already notwithstanding and adds
TO the trouble. The restricted respira.
ton in time affects the general health
of the animal. because there is not suf-
iicient air inspired to purify the blood,
and other diseases arising from impure
" OF blood weaken the constitution and
shorten the animals life.
There is but one remedy, and that is
prevention. From the nature of the
disease cure is beyond the art or skill
OF the surgeon. and although il NAV be
considerably eased and relieved by suit-
able feeding, vet the trouble win return
on the first provocation. 1t is unneces-
sary to particularize the means of pre-
vention; these suggest themselves when
the causes are known. Avoiding dusty
food of all kinds. musty grain or nav, OF
breeding from diseased horses (for the
disease is easily inherited) are the
chief preventive measures. Moistened
food given in small quantities. and
therefore Of nutritious kinds, with at
tention to keeping the system loose and
open and care to avoid excessive exer-
ton, win afford such relief that the
trouble will wholly disappear for the
time icing. This subject is one well
worth attention now that popular re-
gard is drawn to the frequency OF
CHAMBERS, for there is no doubt that the
poisoning Of the blood from long-con-
tinued difficult and restricted respira-
ton viii tend to produce this disease
rs preliminary 10 lung consumption,
or as a direct cause of death; the final
effect of an insufficient supply of air to
the lungs being precisely the same as
that of impure air, and impure air is q
weIl-known provocative of both farcy
and glanders.--N T. Times.