The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-31
Heaves in Horses.

aHeaves" 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 key to its origin and
nature this is, that it prevails only where
clover hay IS used; and is unknown where
clover hay is not in use. 1t is called
''broken wind" in England, and is there
quite as frequent as it is in Eastern Amer
lea. On the plains it is unknown, excep-
ting as 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 it
is supposed to be wholly mechanical at
first, but this common impression is prob
ably not wholly correct, and the alimentary
effects, so to speak, of the common food of
horses may have considerable influence
upon the condition of the animal, and re-
suit in disorder of the lungs, which will
produce all the symptoms Of which are
known as heaves. These are simply short
ness of breath or difficulty of breathing,
which is shown by the violent action of the
nostrils, the heaying Of the tanks, and the
evident distress Of the animal under unu-
sual exertion, or when the weather is close,
damp and warm. Clover hay is exceed
ingly dusty The broken leaves and bios
SONS, and the very common mouldiness
and mustiness produced by the unskillful
curing of the clover, either by over-drying
it or putting it away too green in damp
weather, make the hay full Of dust. This
dusty hay, given loose and dry to horses,
fills the air passages and lungs with an ex-
ceedingly irritating substance, which causes
constant coughing and an infammatory
condition Of the sensitive membrane lining
of these air passages. The cough produces
permanent spasmodic action, which oc
ours and becomes more violent upon every
fresh occasion, and IN time the membrane
becomes thickened and SO offers obstruction
to the passage of the air to and from the
lungs When this has progressed to GER
tain stage every expansion OF the lungs
produces the distressing spasmodic action,
as well as intense muscular action to force
sufficient supply of air through the con-
tracted passages Heavy feeding, too, with
bulky food, by extending the stomach,
causes this organ to press upon the already
oyerburdened lungs, and adds to the trouble.
The restricted respiration In time affects
the general health of the animal, because
there is not sufficient air inspired to purify
the blood, and other diseases arising from
impuri.y of blood weaken the constitution
and shortens the animals life.
There is but one remedy, and that is
prevention. From the nature of the dis
ease, cure is beyond the art or skill Of the
surgeons; and although it may be consid-
erably eased and relieved by suitable feed
ing, vet the trouble win return on the first
provocation. 1t is unnecessary to particu-
larize the means of prevention; these sug-
gest themselves when the causes are known.
Avoiding dusty food of all kinds, musty
grain or hay, or breeding from diseased
horses (for the disease is easily inherited)
are the chief preventive measures. Moist
ened food given in small quantities, and
therefore of nutritious kinds, with atten-
ton to keeping the system loose and open,
and care to avoid excessive exertion, will
afford such relief that the trouble will
wholly disappear for the time being. This
subject is we'll worth attention, now that
the popular regard is drawn to the fire.
quency of CHAMBERS, for there is no doubt
that the poisoning of the blood from long
continued, difficult and restricted respira-
ton will tend to produce this disease as a
preliminary to 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 is
a well-known provocation of both farcy and
CHAMBERS 7. Times.