STUD BOOK. 137 



Roaring may be divided into two classes; that which 

 must be pronounced, in opposition to all theory, as decidedly 

 hereditary; and that which is produced in individuals in 

 consequence of catarrhal disorders, strangles, influenza, or 

 any other temporary cause which establishes inflammation, 

 and a consequent thickening in the mucous membrane lining 

 the trachea, or parts adjacent, which are the seats of the dis- 

 order. Some persons are skeptical respecting the hereditary 

 transmission of roaring, for which little surprise can be en- 

 tertained, when the difficulties which enshroud numerous 

 equivocal indications are enumerated. To unravel the mys- 

 tery, the primary cause must be ascertained; for it would 

 be exceeding the limits of truth and experience to say that 

 because a horse is a roarer himself, he will transmit it to 

 his stock. Certain conformations, or rather malformations, 

 of the limbs such as the legs, the hocks, and the feet aro 

 often transmitted from the parent to the offspring; from 

 which splints, curbs, spavins, navicular diseases, and other 

 infirmities, have their origin; and these are admitted in the 

 category of hereditary complaints: yet it cannot be accepted 

 as a rule without exception, that all the produce of mal- 

 formed animals shall inherit the imperfections of their parents. 

 Upon the principle of malformation in the parts immediately 

 or indirectly connected with the organs of respiration, roaring 

 must undoubtedly come within the definition of an hereditary 

 cause. But when a thickening takes place of the mucous mem- 

 brane lining the parts which are the seat of the disorder, or 

 ossification of the cartilages of the windpipe, in consequence 

 of inflammation, resulting from bronchitis, influenza, colds, 

 or such-like accidental occurrences, providing no malformation 

 of the parts previously existed, roaring cannot with pro- 

 priety be denominated hereditary. The difficulty in such 

 cases is to determine whether that malformation of parts 

 does exist. To assign to such accidental causes as the latter 

 the aspersion of hereditary transmission, is not consonant 

 with reason. 



There are as many degrees or intonations of roaring as 

 there are notes on the gamut; and those notes ascend from 

 piano to forte. This renders it difficult in some slight cases 

 to decide positively whether a horse is a roarer or not; and 

 good judges may be mistaken. The state of the animal 

 very frequently occasions an impediment to an accurate 

 decision: if he be in very plethoric condition, he will not 

 unfrequently give slight indications of roaring; but when he 

 is divested of that superabundance of fat, all the disagreeable 



