In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 201 



and barb are free from this complaint, and no doubt our 

 climate has something to answer for in this respect. 

 This is a disease arising from an affection of the larynx 

 and superior portion of the windpipe. When a horse so 

 affected has been hard trotted or galloped, he may be 

 heard at some distance to utter a grunting sound, or 

 when he is standing if touched suddenly with a stick or 

 whip he will grunt or groan. Dealers are often seen to 

 lay hold of the horse by the head with the left hand, 

 while with the right hand they feign to hit the horse ; 

 he will cringe away from them and utter a loud grunt if 

 he is a roarer. This disease is supposed to be produced 

 by a thickening of the larynx and upper portion of the 

 windpipe, in consequence of previous inflammation, and 

 thus obstructing the passage and limiting its action. 

 After strangles this disease frequently follows, and it is a 

 noticeable fact that horses whose sires or dams were 

 affected with this disease are predisposed to the com- 

 plaint. Another great cause of this complaint, in the 

 carriage or harness horse, is the cruel and absurd 

 bearing-rein, which gags the horse's head out of its 

 natural form, and the constant strain on the muscles of 

 the neck set up inflammation in the region of the 

 maxillary gland, the larynx becomes affected, thickening 

 takes place, and for our foolisii fashion, a horse that 

 would have been worth a hundred guineas becomes fit 

 only for a cab horse. By this action the larynx and 

 superior muscles of the windpipe are circumscribed and 

 ultimately become semi-paralysed with consequent loss 

 of power and action ; therefore the opening not being 

 sufficiently capacious during the rapid breathing oc- 



