The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-24
Fig. 1.
Professional.

broken wind there is difficult expiration of
the breath. Inspiration is steady and
quiet, but the animal lets out his breath in
sort OF double puff. The TANKS rise,
hesitate an instant, then continue the ex-
plratory effort with a sort OF jerk. Not
much can be done for the cure OF broken
w1nded horse, but his condition can be
materially relieved by care in feeding and
watering. As matter of fact carelessness
in these regards is very largely the cause
OF this unpleasant difficulty. Overlooking,
particularly overlooking with hay or straw,
ieeolng too near the time OF putting the
morse to work, and allowing the animal to
drink excessively before starting to work
are some of the errors by which our heavy
oraft horses are made TO suffer.
A horse just off pasture and horse fed
only hay should never be rushed, particu-
larly on hill roads. | have seen magnlti-
cent horse ruined by a five minutes OF
quick driving on slight grade, just after
he had been given big feed of hay.
Broken wind can be told from the putting
of blown" horse by the jerking eSpira-
ton. The horse that is "winded' or
blown" temporarily, from exertlon
breathes quickly and loudly, but inspira-
ton and expiration are both steady though
labored, but the two short puffs during ex-
plratlon IN broken wind are unmistakable,
particularly if you hear as well the short,
hollow cough. In buying horse you will,
OF course, insist upon trying him at speed
or sharp exertion, and you should pay par
tlcuiar attention to his breathing after
ward.
Particular attention should be paid to
his stable, which should be we'll ventilated,
and he should never be put to work imme-
dlately after eating. He should not be
given straw or large quantities OF hay. and
II he eats his bedding, as he will be likely
to do, he should be muZzled at night. In
broken wind the animal should be fed very
largely on grains. Oats are better for him
than barley, and carrots are excellent for
him if they are in good condition. What
ever he is fed should be nourishing and
concentrated, so as not to make much bulk
In the digestive tract. Heaves is another
name for broken wind.
Roaring, wheeling and whistling are I'M
pleasant and serious ailments of the wind
in horses. Ouriously enough they are
often COMPOUNDED even by experienced
horsemen, although they are all distinct
and characteristic In symptoms and effect.
Roaring is loud, ringing respiration
after exertion. 1t is caused by contrac-
ton or other deformity Of the windpipe
and is generally incurable, aith ough there
are one or two cases on record of success
full operation therefor in rae ehorses.
Whistling is also caused by contraction
of the windpipe, but the sound lacks the
sonorous quality that characterizes the
breathing of a roarer upon rapid exertIon.
1t shows itself most markedly when the
horse is going uphill. There is very little
that can be done for the whistler, except
TO keep him well within the limits of ex-
ertion that does not excite his difficulty oil
respiration.
Wheeling differs from whistling in that
the labored, noisy breathing is continu-
Gus, whether there is extra exertion or not.
1t is difficulty in the bronchial tubes, and
is susceptible of treatment at the hands oil
veterinary. Phosphorus is one of the
best remedies in most case S OF wheeling
respiration.
Coughs and colds in horses are almost
invariably due to bad stable management.
Fresh air is an absolute necessity to the
horse. He is an animal of fastidious habit
and large lung capacity. Our insane no.
tions regarding checks and overdraws
have produced in him a tendency to
disease in the air-passages, and he is less
fitted to thrive in dirty or ill-ventilated
stable than even human being. Every
stable should have provision, above, for
the escape of the warm, impure and eX-
hausted air, that rises, naturally, and, be-
low, for the entrance OF the cooler, purer
air, which, If it cannot get in below will
enter by the upper ventilators, and cause
Ne lOWtI
should be so arranged that they admit no
draughts upon the horses legs.
They should be as near the floor as pos
sible. but should not, as they frequently
do, admit the fresh air under the managers.
Nor should bedding be, as it frequently is,
thrust under the manger during the day,
the ammoniacal gases arising therefrom are
an active agent in setting up irritation in
the respiratory passages and horse who
breathes them is very apt to have cough,
which more often than not is merely the
precursor of serious difficulty.
Musty, dirty or mow-burnt hay will
cause irritation in the air passages and no
hay should ever be left in the managers, as
1t is sure to sour and make trouble.
Horses that are "soft," that is that have
been for some time on green feed, or are
only fed hay, should never be given fast
work. The animal just off pasture usually
feels fresh and lively and is anxious to go
when put to work, but his ambition
should be held in check until the disten-
sion of stomach and digestive tract by
large quantities of green grass is remedied
and the lungs have room to move in and
the muscles have been hardened and toned
up by fewdays of grain-feeding.
Miss RUSSELL.