ROARING AND WHISTLING. 63 



may become less in their eiFect. To instance, sup- 

 pose the roaring proceeded from some temporary- 

 affection of the glottis, sore throat, any enlarge- 

 ment or partial stoppage in the larynx; should 

 such causes become abated, the roaring (if they 

 were the causes of it) would abate. His getting 

 better or worse, or remaining in the same state, 

 will depend on the cause or causes of the com- 

 plaint, varying in their degree, or remaining in the 

 same force. Of the probability of a roarer getting 

 worse or better, in a general way, no professional 

 skill could warrant a decision ; because, in a ge- 

 neral way, the cause of the complaint cannot be 

 decided on : in fact, even from what part the noise 

 proceeds cannot always be ascertained. That it 

 sometimes proceeds from, or rather is emitted 

 through the nostrils, is quite clear ; and, for this 

 reason, persons may (if they have curiosity enough 

 to look for such a thing) often see cab horses with 

 a nose-band put on much lower than nose-bands 

 usually are. When this is the case, the horse 

 wearing it is a roarer. Inside this nose-band two 

 thick pieces of leather or cork are affixed ; these 

 press on the air passage of the nostrils, and by so 

 doing prevent, in a great measure, the escape of 

 sound. Never having been blessed by the pos- 

 session of more than two roaring horses, and but 

 one of those bought for my personal use, I am 

 not prepared to say whether this manoeuvre would 



