The illustrated horse doctor : $b being an accurate and detailed account of the various diseases to which the equine race are subjectedMayhew, Edward
Science
The illustrated horse doctor : $b being an accurate and detailed account of the various diseases to which the equine race are subjected
Mayhew, Edward
Horses -- Diseases
The seat of this affliction is not confined to any one organ; its ravage
is universal. No part escapes; that the entire animal economy can change
all at once, like a trick in a Christmas pantomime, is a circumstance
which has yet to be established. The malady is most general among the
agricultural districts; the farmer's poor team, in many parts of England,
seldom tastes much of that which can be taken to market. Cut grass
constitutes its chief summer food; the coat is rarely groomed; the stable
often left open, and only cleaned when manure is wanted. During the winter
months the animals have to luxuriate in the strawyard; the body's abuse,
in such horses, may readily lead to the body's degeneration. Green-meat
will not support the strength, though upon it the life may be sustained.
The occupiers of the soil would find it to their account, could the class
be brought to bestow a little more attention upon their living property.
The years of labor would be prolonged, and the activity of the laborer be
quickened; fewer horses need then be kept, and the anxieties of the farmer
would be lightened. Agricultural teams would not then be encountered
slowly creeping along the highway, and sleeping as they journeyed. Care
naturally begets pride, and worth generally resides where pride is
exhibited. Increased value would reward the farmer, whose animals would
not then so often present the spectacle of horses doing slow work, being
touched in the wind.
Broken wind is evidently a disorder of slow and of long growth; any abuse
may lay the foundation of such an affliction. Where abuse of life is
possible, there folly is too often habitual; thus repetition may hasten
the development of broken wind, but no one act could provoke so lamentable
a consequence.
There is some dispute whether broken wind originates in the stomach or in
the lungs. The mass of evidence would favor the opinion that originally it
was a disease of the digestive organs; but, as the disorder proceeds, all
parts of the body appear to be involved.
The symptoms of broken wind are a short, dry cough, which is described
as "_hacking_," and which may be readily imitated by any person making
a coughing noise while he withholds from enlarging the mouth, moving
the lips, or employing the tongue, but at the same time endeavoring to
pronounce the word "hack."
The cough arises from irritability of the larynx, the mucous membrane
of which is directly continuous with that proper to the lungs, and is
joined to that of the stomach, any disease of which organ is frequently
accompanied by cough.
The appetite is ravenously and unscrupulously morbid; the thirst is
insatiable; the flatus is most abundant; the dung is but half digested;
the abdomen is pendulous; the coat is ragged, and the general aspect is
dejected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account