65 



throats, and slight inflammatory attacks on the 

 lungs. But all these defects are hut temporary, 

 and may he removed by timely care and atten- 

 tion. On the whole, therefore, it appears very 

 fair to conclude, that, if a horse be not broken- 

 winded at the time of sale, he should be con- 

 sidered as a sound horse, as far as regards the 

 state of his lungs, and not liable to be returned 

 for having a cough. There is, however, another 

 kind of diseased respiration, denominated 



ROARING ; 



Which consists in the production of a sound 

 similar to, though considerably louder, tlian the 

 wheezing of the human being, when labouring 

 under the paroxysm of an asthma. This sound 

 never takes place, except the motion of the 

 horse be quickened^ but it increases wdth the 

 increase of the pace. It is also very manifest, 

 when the horse is going over a leap, at which 

 time he generally gives a deep groan. Dealers 

 have a method of ascertaining the existence of 

 the disease, by striking the horse under the 

 belly with a whip, and turning him suddenly 

 round at the same time. If he groans during 

 this process, they conclude that he is a roarer. 

 The groaning is probably occasioned by the 

 sudden contraction of the abdominal muscles. 



