The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

24G The Management and Treatment of the Horse,
which I have already described. As the feet of horses
are of such importance, I would advise every one to
acquire a knowledge of them, and to do this there is no
better plan than to attend daily a well-employed shoeing-
forge, and for a small gratuity the smith will point out
the different formations of the feet that come under his
observations. If he has had experience he will be able
to point out readily the indications of disease ; he will
also see why different formed feet require that the shoes
should be modified and adapted to the peculiarity of the
structure or probably existing disease. The next im-
portant thing to study is the wind, for it is this point
that the coper knows well how to patch up for twenty-
four hours, which is long enough for his purpose ; study
all that I have said upon the different complaints of the
lungs. The wind may be tested by what is known as
coughing the horse, that is by pinching the windpipe im-
mediately behind the jaw. If the horse gives a long sharp
cough it is an indication that it is sound in that respect,
but if the cough be short and hollow it may be inferred
that the horse has unsound lungs. Let gentle pressure
of the windpipe be frequently repeated in order to fully
test this, and be sure to do this with your own hand, as
dealers know that by compressing the windpipe with one
hand and the forefinger of the other, the horse is forced to
cough while doing so and produces that shrill sound con-
sidered a test for good wind, by the air rushing through
the limited aperture. Having satisfied yourself in this re-
spect, proceed to watch the flanks in breathing; if the belly
of the animal swells out and the inspirations and the ex-
pirations are regular, it may be reasorably inferred that