ROARING. 501 



suflficiently light even to be carried in the pocket, but is more 

 frequently attached to the saddle, and which, on the loss of a 

 shoe, can be applied to the foot in the space of a minute, and 

 so securely attached to it that the sportsman may continue the 

 chase to the end of the longest run. The same sandal has been 

 repeatedly worn more than one hundred miles. It may be pro- 

 cured from any respectable harnessmaker. 



Roaring.— The quality of soundness involves several questions 

 of no mean importance, especially with regard to those maladies 

 which are capable of being transmitted. It is very apparent to 

 those whose practice among horses is extensive, and who are 

 best able to form accurate opinions, that spavins and curbs are 

 less frequent than they were five-and-twenty years ago. This 

 may fairly be attributed to the fact, that considerable circum- 

 spection has been exercised in avoiding such animals for breed- 

 ing purposes as, possessing peculiar conformations in their 

 hocks, would render their oifspring predisposed to those de- 

 fects. Blindness is certainly less prevalent than formerly. 

 Superior management in the stable has evidently assisted in 

 averting this evil ; insufficiently ventilated, dark stables, with 

 an accumulation of dung to generate ammonia, are fortunately 

 out of fashion. 



There is an impression that roaring is more frequent ; and 

 among race-horses it is not without foundation. As an heredi- 

 tary complaint, it may certainly be traced to several sources — 

 to horses whose progeny have, in many instances, given une- 

 quivocal testimony of the infirmity. When the fact is seriously 

 considered, it is surprising that gentlemen of known talent, 

 owners of valuable studs, liberal in every item of expense cal- 

 culated to promote the success of their young racing stock, 

 should ever breed from sires or dams known to entail this 

 malady on their progeny. A veterinary surgeon of great ability 

 and observation, has stated that every stallion, when consigned 

 to the stud, becomes a roarer. It is a startling assertion, and 

 induced me to investigate the fact very minutely. The result 

 does not corroborate the statement to the full extent of the de- 

 claration, although I discovered sufficient to lead me to the 

 conviction that it is a very prevalent affliction. I must here, 

 however, introduce a reserving clause, arising from the difficulty 



