BRONCHOCELE. 197 



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 v/ith roarers, and many a breeder half ruined. 

 Roaring is not, however, necessarily hereditar3^ Mr. Goodwin, whose name is great 

 authority, states that Taurus, a celebrated racer that had become a roarer, had covered 

 several mares, and tlieir 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. 



What then is to be done with these animals ■? Abandon them to their fatel 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 stand- 

 ing 1 Is it now accompanied i)y cough or any symptoms of general or local irrita- 

 tion 1 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 tlie anirnal 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 dis- 

 ease with which it can be clearly connected, careful examination of the patient may 

 be commenced. Is there cough 1 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 

 rattlino- and o-uo-crlina-, be detected ■? Is that wheezingf or rattlinij 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 continuance of moderate deple- 

 tory 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 rattling or wheezing to the same 

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

 lie could certainly cut upon the seat of disease. 



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

 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. 



BRONCHOCELE. 



Mr. Percivall is almost the only author who takes notice of enlargement of the 

 thyroid glands — two oval bodies below the larynx, and attached to the trachea. The 

 nse of them has never been satisfactorily explained. They sometimes grow to the 

 size of an e^g, or larger, but are unattended by cough or fever, and are nothing more 

 than an eye-sore. The iodine ointment has occasionally been applied with success. 

 The blister or the seton may also be useful. 



EPIDEMIC CATARRH. 



Var.ous names are given to this disease — influenza, distemper, catarrhal fever, and 

 epidemic catarrh. Its usual history is as follows. 

 In the spring of the year — a cold, wet spring — and that succeeding to a mild winter, 



17* 



