HORSES AND HOUNDS. 59 



applied tlie irons to such purpose up and down, lengthways 

 and crossways on their legs, that they were disfigured for life ; 

 remonstrance was useless, as the mischief was done, but I could 

 not help being sadly out of temper when my father coolly 

 remarked, " You said these horses suited you ; this firing will 

 only, therefore, prevent their breaking down ; and there is 

 another thing, you will not be able to sell them." 



Of internal imsoundness, roaring and broken wind are the 

 most common causes, and most easily detected, but although 

 volumes almost have been written as to the cure of the former, 

 the case has been now pronounced nearly hopeless. Of broken 

 wind there can be no question ; in the earlier stages, however, 

 of roaring and broken wind, horses are capable of doing good 

 service, with quiet treatment and at moderate paces. I have 

 myself ridden roarers, hunting for several seasons without 

 experiencing any ill effects either by falls or otherwise, but they 

 required careful handling, and would not bear being suddenly 

 forced to the top of their speed, or being driven hard against 

 hilly ground ; they must also be allowed more time at their 

 fences, when in the least distressed. The noise they make, 

 although not perhaps accompanied with much pain to them- 

 selves, is very painful to the rider. Whistling is next akin to 

 roaring, proceeding from the same cause, contraction <of the 

 larynx, or thickening of the membranes of the windpipe, which 

 in some horses is hereditary, or resulting from neglected sore 

 throat, strangles, or cold. In the latter cases, geuLie blisters or 

 embrocations applied externally, will greatly relieve the breath- 

 ing of the horse, by reducing any internal inflammation ; but 

 ■where there is a natural contraction, which is often the case, 

 applications of this kind will, of course, have little efi'ect, 



Broken-winded horses are powerless as hunters, although 

 they may last many years in slow work, with necessary atten- 

 tion to their feeding, which should consist almost entirely of 

 manger food, — a mixture of the sweetest hay chaff and bruised 

 com. Lime-water I have also found of much service, which 

 should be thus used : — place a large lump of lime, about the size 

 of a man's double fist, in a tub, upon which pour four large 

 buckets of water ; when settled and clear, a quart of this mix 

 ture should be given in a bucket of water, night and morning, 

 for a fortnight, or longer if necessary. 



.There are many other diseases to which horses are liable, 

 now so generally treated on and explained by clever veterinary 

 surgeons, that it is unnecessary, in a work of this description, 

 to enlarge further upon them ; my object having been chiefly 



