Farriery. An incurable disease of the organs of respiration in horses, caused by the rupture of the air-cells, which disables them from bearing fatigue.
[1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., A broken wind is discovered by a horse’s blowing at the nose in the stable, and his flanks beating quick, double and irregular, especially after motion.]
1838. Penny Cycl., XII. 311/2. Chronic cough … often degenerating into thick wind … in a great proportion of cases terminates in broken wind.
1847. Youatt, Horse, xii. 278. Thick-wind and broken-wind exist in various degrees.
