ROARING IN A HORSE. 489 
Who cannot admire the wisdom of such an arrangement? 
beautiful even in its simplicity ! 
Entertaining these views, I thought it quite possible so to 
modify the external atmospheric supply, that, during exercise, 
the volume of air, when it arrived at the glottis should not 
exceed that which passed through the rima when the horse 
was tranquil, which quantity we know, by the hypothesis, 
produces no roaring. 
A strap was accordingly made to pass around the nose, 
just over the region of the false nostrils, and buckle beneath 
the lower jaw. To the inner surface of this strap, and im- 
mediately over the false nostril on each side, was fixed a 
projection resembling in shape the half of a small hen’s egg 
cut longitudinally. When applied, these projections pressed 
upon the triangular spaces formed by the apex of the nasal 
bones and superior maxilla, collapsing the false nostrils, and 
partially diminishing the channel leading from the true ones. 
The result was very gratifying, for the patient, which 
previously could not travel without stopping every few minutes 
to take breath, now travelled apparently without inconve- 
nience or noise. At first, the strap seemed slightly to annoy 
him; and, whenever it got displaced, the roaring would 
recommence. 
A slight modification overcame every difficulty ; the strap, 
instead of being buckled around and under the jaw, was 
fastened on each side to the bit, and to prevent its descent 
another was carried from its centre, and fastened to the 
front of the harness-bridle. 
I am happy to say, the effect is all we could have wished; 
the horse, which previously had been entirely useless, now 
performs his work in a heavy brougham, and gives great 
satisfaction. The roaring is stopped, and with the usual 
speed, there appears no impediment to respiration. I have 
paid particular attention to this case, and am inclined to 
think that, when by the compression we have neutralized the 
action of the false nostrils, the object is effected without the 
necessity of further contracting the nasal passage. 
Experiment alone can confirm this. 
Doubtless a horse so circumstanced is unfit for very rapid 
motion, inasmuch as it is but reasonable to infer that a 
sufficient volume of air cannot be obtained for the due 
oxygenation of the blood, unless indeed frequency of respira- 
tion compensates for bulk. We know the wonderful facility 
with which Nature adapts herself to circumstances. 
The patient, however, seems daily to improve, and works 
as if no impediment existed to his respiration. 
XXXI. 
65 
