RESPIRATORY & CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS 165 



that have ever run on the course have had to retire from 

 the field owing to the development of this abnormal 

 condition. Many horsemen look on it as hereditary, and 

 consequently will not breed from any stock having this 

 trouble in their family history. 



It is quite likely that roaring comes as an inheritance to 

 some horses, whilst to others it is acquired. Some horses 

 develop it quite early on in life. Sometimes it remains as 

 a legacy of strangles. All classes of horses are subject 

 to it, but it is most prevalent amongst hunters, hacks, 

 hackneys, and thoroughbreds. The heavy draught horse 

 and the vanner are quite commonly afflicted, which 

 materially detracts from their value as marketable 

 commodities. Judged from a utilitarian standpoint the 

 matter is quite different, more especially in the case of 

 horses required for slow work. A great deal will depend 

 upon circumstances. Some horses make quite a loud 

 noise under the most trivial exertion, whereas others only 

 make a slight noise even under the most severe exertion, 

 but there is always liability for those that are only 

 slightly affected to become worse. 



The majority of roarers *' grunt " when a feint is made 

 to strike them with a whip or stick ; in fact, grunting is 

 generally a sign of roaring, although it can and does 

 exist apart from the trouble now under consideration. 

 Its existence is quite sufficient for a thorough trial of the 

 animal regarding its soundness of wind or otherwise. 



There is an abnormal condition of the wind closely 

 allied to roaring known as " high blowing," which is 

 apparently due to some diminution in the calibre of the 

 nasal passage. Quite a number of horsemen pay very 

 little attention to this, and the author has examined 

 many horses afflicted in the manner named. However, 

 a ** high blower " should really be regarded as unsound, 

 as there are so many probabilities relating to it. 



*' Thick wind " is another horsey term, practically 

 synonymous with either " high blowing " or mild " roar- 



