LARYNGISMUS PARALYTICUS; 



OR, 



EOAKING m HORSES. 



CHAPTER I. 



HISTORY OF ROARING. 



Next to lameness in horses, defects in respiration are 

 perhaps of the most importance. To be " sound in wind 

 and limb " comprises, according to the popular notion, 

 nearly all that is required in a horse ; for unless capable of 

 moving at a certain, and perhaps rapid, pace, and probably 

 exerting a great amount of strength while in motion, this 

 animal would be of little value to man. Certainly it might 

 be utilized to some extent if slightly lame, or affected only 

 to a trifling degree in its breathing ; but whenever this 

 limit is exceeded, and the lameness becomes particularly 

 marked, or the defective respiration is verj^ perceptible, then 

 the state of the animal is considered serious, so far as its 

 utility is concerned : for then the defect may either 

 really impair or altogether abolish its usefulness, and create 

 an impression that the creature is suffering pain, or is in 

 distress — an impression which is always unpleasant to the 

 humane horseman. 



To enable it to travel at a high rate of speed, and to 

 undergo severe exertion, the respiratory organs of the horse 



1 



