268 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



The idea that the horse I almost worshipped was 

 afflicted with wind infirmity distressed me in a 

 way I cannot describe. I hardly slept at all the 

 following night. My mind would dwell on the 

 fact that Ormonde had become a victim of that 

 scourge roaring I I at once wrote to the Duke, 

 who was naturally deeply grieved by the news. 

 At that period the ailment was very slight, but it 

 gradually got worse. 



During the winter of 1886-87 Ormonde was 

 electrically treated. The electric sponge was 

 applied every day to the paralysed nerve in his 

 throat. The process occupied about half an 

 hour. At first Ormonde did not take at all kindly 

 to this " doctoring,'* but he presently became 

 accustomed to it, and took no notice. I have 

 reason to think he derived no benefit from the 

 treatment ; nevertheless, we persevered, for there 

 seemed to be no other remedy to try. 



When Ormonde resumed work in the spring 

 of 1887 he had become a pronounced " whistler." 

 One morning, when there was a thick fog on the 

 Downs, we could hear him breathing when he 

 was nearly half a mile away. Of course the fog 

 helped to carry and magnify the noise. The 

 Duke, who was with me, remarked sadly, 

 " Tm afraid there's not much doubt about it 

 now." 



As a four-year-old Ormonde did not run until 

 the Ascot Meeting. The week before Ascot he 



