56 DISEASES OF THE AIR-PASSAGES. 



all turning out well {lud have won several races — in no one 

 instance his get having proved a roarer; and notwithstanding 

 that his own family were all notorious for the disease. Mr. 

 Goodwin knows a mare who has produced four crib-biters, 

 though covered by different stallions,, and she herself not pos- 

 sessing the vice. 



The treatment of roaring is an affair that will employ 

 both our practical and theoretical research. As I said before, 

 unless we can ascertain the cause of the evil, and make a shrewd 

 guess at the nature and situation of this cau3e,"we do little 

 more than impose upon our employers, and upon ourselves too, 

 in attempts to remedy it. Towards this end, the first inquiry to 

 be made is, how long the horse has been a roarer. Secondly, 

 whether the roaring followed catarrh, or cough, or bronchitis, 

 or strangles, or distemper of any kind. Thirdly, whether the 

 horse has run in harness, and is in the habit of being tightly 

 reined up, and whether the roaring existed antecedently to 

 his going in harness, or has come on since. Fourthly, by 

 careful examination, to ascertain whether there exists any me- 

 chanical obstruction to account for the roaring ; or any dis- 

 tortion, or deformity, or unnatural tenderness about the 

 larynx or windpipe. Fifthly, if there be any reason for be- 

 lieving it to be nervous or spasmodic. Lastly, should there 

 appear any chance of the horse being benefitted by treatment, 

 to inquire what is his value or what value his master sets on 

 him — and whether his owner is willing to give him up a 

 sufficient length of time for requisite trial of treatment. 



AscuLTATioN, carcfully practised, will prove very service- 

 able to us in discovering whence the sound proceeds, and 

 leading, probably, to some better opinion as to what gives 

 rise to it. The stethoscope may be used ; but, in general, 

 we shall do better without it. It will be an important step 

 towards treatment to make out whether the cause resides in 

 the head, or the larynx, or the windpipe, or lungs. 



A CURE FOR ROARING is what — at least, in the common 

 acceptance of the phrase — we do not possess; nor is it pos- 

 sible for a general cure to be included in any one individual 

 remedy or special set of remedies. That which would tend 



