History of Roaring. 7 



probably introduced by jockeys, farriers, or horse-copers, 

 who have given us so many of the fantastic and barbarous 

 designations that are still retained in the vocabulary of the 

 stable and horse-market. 



Richard Lawrence, veterinary surgeon, Birmingham, is 

 perhaps the first writer who alludes to '' Roaring " by that 

 name, in a work published at the very commencement of 

 the century.i Treating of respiration and its defects, he 

 writes : " Another imperfection, which may be included in 

 the class of diseased respiration, is the sound which arises 

 in breathing, with some horses, when their pace is ac- 

 celerated. A horse of this description is termed a Roarer. 

 From my own observation, I have not been able to discover 

 whether its source is in the lungs, the trachea, or the nose, 

 though it is probable its seat is in the trachea or larynx. 

 Dealers have a method of ascertaining the existence of the 

 disease by striking the horse under the belly with a whip, 

 and turning him suddenly round at the same time. If he 

 groans during this process, they say it proves that he is a 

 ' roarer.' This is probably occasioned by the sudden con- 

 traction of the abdominal muscles forcing air from the 

 lungs through the trachea with greater rapidity, in conse- 

 quence of the pain he feels from the stroke of the whip, as 

 well as from the bending of the ribs in the action of turning 

 round in a small compass. This disease prevails to a 

 different degree in different subjects ; in its commencement 

 it is generally manifested by a whistling noise, but in the 

 confirmed state it is more sonorous, and resembles deep groan- 

 ing. In either case it has hitherto remained incurable." 



White is the next veterinary writer who mentions Roaring 

 In 1802, under this designation, he says in his " Compen- 

 dium " : " This disease takes its name from a peculiar sound 

 in respiration, particularly when the horse is put into a 

 brisk trot or gallop. It seems to rise from lymph that has 



1 " An Enquiry into the Structure and Animal Economy of the 

 Horse," 1801. 



