ROARING. 257 



existence of roaring in a stallion cannot be of any consequence. It cannot 

 be propagated any more than a broken bone, or any other accident." A fair 

 specimen of the horse -knowledge of one of the best of the medical examiners of 

 veterinary pupils. 



Sir Charles returned full of glee ; the good people of Norfolk and Suffolk 

 were satisfied ; Major Wilson's horse was in high request : but in a few years a 

 great part of the two counties was overrun with roarers, and many a breeder 

 half ruined. Roaring is not, however, necessarily hereditary. Mr. Goodwin, 

 whose name is great authority, states that Taurus, a celebrated racer that 

 had become a roarer, had covered several mares, and their produce all turned 

 out well, and had won several races. In no instance did his progeny exhibit this 

 defect, notwithstanding that his own family were notorious for being roarers. 

 Eclipse also is said to have been a roarer. 



VVhat then is to be done with these animals ? Abandon them to their fate ? 

 No, not so ; but there is no necessity rashly to undertake a hopeless affair. All 

 possible knowledge must be obtained of the origin of the disease. Did it follow 

 strangles, catarrh, bronchitis, or any affection of the respiratory passages ? Is it 

 of long standing? Is it now accompanied by cough or any symptoms of general 

 or local irritation ? Can any disorganization of these parts be detected ? Any 

 distortion of the larynx ? Did it follow breaking-in to harness ? The answer 

 to these questions will materially guide any future proceedings. If there is 

 plain distortion of the larynx or trachea, or the disease can be associated, in 

 point of time, with breaking-in to harness, or the coachman or proprietor has 

 been accustomed to rein the animal in too tightly or too cruelly, or the sire was a 

 roarer, it is almost useless to have anything to do with the case. But if it is 

 of rather recent date, and following closely on some disease with which it can 

 be clearly connected, careful examination of the patient may be commenced. 

 Is there cough ? Can any heat or tenderness be detected about the larynx or 

 trachea? Is there in every part the same uniform rushing noise ; or, on some 

 particular spot, can a more violent breathing, a wheezing or whistling, or a 

 rattling and guggling, be detected? Is that wheezing or rattling either confined 

 to one spot, or less sonorous as the ear recedes from that spot above or below ; 

 or is it diffused over a considerable portion of the trachea ? 



In these cases it would be fair to bleed, purge, and most certainly to blister. 

 The ear will guide to the part to which the blister should be applied. The 

 physic having set, a course of fever medicine should be commenced. It should 

 be considered as a case of chronic inflammation, and to be subdued by a con- 

 tinuance of moderate depletory measures. Probably blood should again be 

 abstracted in less quantity ; a second dose of physic should be given, and, most 

 certainly, the blister should be repeated, or kept discharging by means of some 

 stimulating unguent. The degree of success which attends these measures 

 would determine the farther pursuit of them. If no relief is obtained after a 

 fortnight or three weeks, perhaps the experimenter would ponder on another 

 mode of treatment. He would again carefully explore the whole extent of the 

 trachea, and if he could yet refer the rattle or wheezing to the same 

 point at which he had before observed it, he would boldly propose tracheotomy \ 

 for he could certainly cut upon the seat of disease. 



If he found one of these organised bands, the removal of it would afford im- 

 mediate relief; or if he found merely a thickened membrane, no harm would 

 be done; or the loss of blood might abate the local inflammation. No one 

 would eagerly undertake a case of roaring ; but, having undertaken it, he should 

 give the measures that he adopts a fair trial, remembering that, in every 

 chronic case like this, the only hope of success depends on perseverance. 



