604 THE HORSE. 



Large horses certainly have a greater tendency to become 

 roarers than smaller ones, and irritable-tempered ones more fre- 

 quently than those of a phlegmatic disposition. Several of the 

 largest stallions might be emimerated as being predisposed to 

 entail this malady on their issue. These are certainly valid 

 reasons for not giving a preference to horses of large size, al- 

 though public opinion predominates in their favor. Stallions 

 are more subject to the complaint than geldings, and geldings 

 more so than mares. Compactly-formed horses of moderate 

 size seldom indulge their owners with music. It is very diffi- 

 cult to assign any reason for this ; but it appears that tliere is 

 a greater constitutional disposition in stallions to inflammation 

 about the respiratory organs than there is in mares or geldings, 

 and that inflammation, resulting in deposits of lymph and 

 ossification of the cartilages, produces the disorder. This 

 phenomenon may be exjDlained in consequence of the sympa- 

 thy which is well known to exist between various parts of the 

 body. 



'. A change in the atmosphere is a very frequent cause of in- 

 flammation in the respiratory organs, and severe frosts, such as 

 we experienced during the winter of 1853 and 1854, are very 

 likely to produce it. In order to preserve the blooming condi- 

 tion of their horses' coats, it is a common practice with grooms 

 to keep the stables as warm as jDossible when a frost sets in ; but 

 it is a most dangerous observance. Of the importance of keep- 

 ing horses warm in their bodies, there cannot be a question ; 

 but that is better regulated by extra clothing. If the atmo- 

 sphere of the stable be raised to a temperature greatly exceed- 

 ing that of the open air, the horses, when taken out to exercise 

 or work, are liable to serious consequences, from the great in- 

 crease in the amount of oxygen which rushes through the 

 respiratory organs in the act of inspiration. The quantity of 

 oxygen is regulated by the temperature of the atmosphere ; 

 and there are few persons who have not exiJerienced the incon- 

 venience attendant upon passing from an overheated ball-room 

 into the open air ; and they generally take the precaution of 

 adopting additional clothing. The case of the horse is precisely 

 analogous. 



Although a very liberal premium has been offered by a no- 



