106 R O A I> 1 N U . 



dealers' habit of coughing the horse, i. e. pressing upon uie larynx to makfc him cough 

 in order that they may judge of the state of his wind by the sound that is emitted, ha 

 produced inflammation about the larynx, which has terminated in roaring, or assisted 

 jn producing it. That pain is given to the animal by the rough and violent way in 

 which the object is sometimes attempted to be accomplished, is evident enough, and 

 this must, in process of time, lead to mischief; but sufficient inflammation and sub 

 sequent ossification of the cartilages would scarcely be produced, to be a cause of 

 roanng. 



The Disease of Draught-Horses generally. There can be no doubt of the fact, that 

 the majority of roarers are draught-horses, and horses of quick draught. They are 

 not only subject to the usual predisposing causes of this obstruction, but there is some- 

 thing superadded, resulting from their habits or mode of work, not indeed necessa- 

 rily resulting, but that which the folly as well as cruelty of man has introduced the 

 system of tight-reining. To a certain extent, the curb-rein is necessary. Without it 

 there would be scarcely any command over a wilful horse, and it would need a strong 

 arm occasionally to guide even the most willing. Without the curb-rein the horse 

 would carry himself low; he would go carelessly along; he would become a stum- 

 bier ; and if he were disposed at any time to run away, the strongest arm would have 

 little power to stop him ; but there is no necessity for the tight rein, and for the long 

 and previous discipline to which the carriage-horse is subjected. There is no necessity 

 that the lower jaw, whether the channel is wide or narrow, should be so forced on the 

 neck, or that the larynx and the portion of the windpipe immediately beneath it should 

 oe flattened, and bent, and twisted, and the respiratory passage not only obstructed, 

 but in a manner closed. The mischief is usually done when the horse is young. It 

 is effected in some'measure by the impatience of the animal, unused to control/and 

 suffering pain. In the violent tossing of his head he bruises the larynx, and produces 

 inflammation. The head of the riding-horse is gradually brought to its proper place 

 by the hands of the breaker, who skilfully increases or relaxes the pressure, and 

 humours and plays with the mouth ; but the poor carriage-horse is confined by a rein 

 that never slackens, and his nose is bent in at the expense of the larynx and wind- 

 pipe. The injury is materially increased if the head is not naturally well set on, or 

 the neck is thick, or the jaws narrow. 



Connected with this is the common notion that crib-biting is a cause of roaring 

 That is altogether erroneous. There is no possible connexion between the com 

 plaints : but one of the methods that used to be resorted to in order to cure crib-biting 

 might be a cause of roaring, namely, the strap so tightly buckled round the upper 

 part of the neck as to compress, and distort, and paralyse the larynx. 



Facts have established the hereditary predisposition to roaring, beyond the possi- 

 bility of doubt. 



In France it is notorious that three-fourths of the horses from Gotten tin are roarers, 

 and some of them are roarers at six months old ; but about La Hague and Le Eocase, 

 not a roarer is known. There is certainly a considerable difference in the soil of the 

 two districts; the first is low and marshy, the latter elevated and dry : but tradition 

 traces it to the introduction of some foreign horses into Cottentin, who bequeathed 

 this infirmity to the^r progeny. 



In our own country, there is as decisive a proof. There was a valuable stallion in 

 Norfolk, belonging to Major Wilson, of Didlington. He was a great favourite, and 

 seemed to be getting some excellent stock ; but he was a roarer, and some of the 

 breeders took alarm at this. They had occasionally too painful experience of the 

 communication of the defects of the parent to his progeny ; and they feared that roar- 

 ing might 'possibly be among these hereditary evils. Sir Charles Bunbury was 

 requested to obtain Mr. Cline's opinion on the subject. Mr. Cline was a deservedly 

 eminent human surgeon : he had exerted himself in the establishment of the Veteri- 

 nary College: he was an examiner of veterinary pupils, and therefore it was supposed 

 that he must be competent to give an opinion. He gave one, and at considerable^ 

 length : "The disorder in the horse," said he, "which constitutes a roarer, is caused 

 by a membranous projection in a part of the windpipe, and is the consequence of that 

 part having boen inflamed from a cold, and injudiciously treated. A roarer, therefore 

 is not a diseased horse, for his lungs and every other part may be perfectly sound 

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

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



