Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-17
HEAvEs IN HORSES.


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 &
key TO its origin and its nature; this
is that il prevails only where clover
hay is used, and is unknown where
clover hay is not in use. II is called
"broken wind" in England, and il
there quite as frequent as it is in East.
ern America. On the plains it is un
known excepting as it may be found
in horses brought from the East and
already affected by il. But then tho
change of food soon relieves the ami
inal, which then suffers from the offsets
OF the disorder very little, and ther
only when hari driven. The cause o.
IT is supposed 10 be wholly mechanical
at nrst; but this common impression
is probably not wholly correct, and
the alimentary effects, so TO speak, o.
the common food of horses NAV hav,
considerable influence upon the con
dition of the animal, and result in dis
order of the lungs, which will produc,
all the symptoms which are known al
heayes. 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 the
animal under unusual exertion or wheI
the weather is damp, close and warm
Clover hay is exceedingly dusty. The
broken leaves and blossoms. and Oh,
very common moldiness or mustines.
produced by the unskilful curing o.
the clover, either by over-drying il OF
putting il away too green in damn
weather, make the hay full of dust
This dusty hay, given loose and dry
TO the horses, fills the air passages and
lungs with an exceedingly irritating
substance, which causes constant
coughing and an inflammatory con.
dition of the sensitive membrane lining
these air passages. The cough pro-
duccs permanent spcsmodic action,
occurs and becomes more violent upon
every fresh occasion, and in time the
membrane becomes thickcned anG so
offers obstruction TO the passage of air
to and from the lungs. When this has
progressed to certain stage every
expansion of the lungs produces the
distressing spasmodic action, as well
rs intense muscular action, TO force a
sufficient supply of air through the
contracted passages. Heavy feeding,
too, with bulky food, by extending
the stomach, causes this organ TO press
upon the already over-burdened lungs
and adds TO the trouble The restrict
cd respiration in time affects the gen.
eral health of the animal. because there
is not sufficient air inspired TO purify
the blood, and other diseases arising
from impurity 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 may
be considerably eascd and relieved by
suitable feeding, the trouble will re-
turn ON the first provocation. Ii is
to particularize the means
of prevention; These suggest them
selves when the causes are known.
Avoiding dusty food of all kinds,
musty grain or hay, or breeding from
horses (for the disease is easily
inherited) are the chief preventive
measures. Moistened food given in
small quantities, and therefore of nu-
tritious kinds, with attention TO keep
ing the system loose and open and care
10 avoid excessive exertion, viii afford
such relief that the troubles will
wholly disappear for the time being.
The subject is one well worth atten-
ton now that popular regard is drawn
to the frequency of CHAMBERS for
there is no doubt that the poisoning
e lr.l
licult and restricted respiration will
lend TO produce this disease as pre-
urinary TO lung consumption, or as
lirect cause of death; the final effect
Of an insufficient supply of air for the
lungs being precisely the same as that
Of impure air, and impure air is a well
known provoeation of both farcy and
York Times.