On a road the clatter made by the horse's feet is so great that it will drown, in many cases, the lesser noise of roaring; and it is not proper to examine their expirations when they are pulled up, as many bad roarers cease making a noise immediately they are stopped.

There is a rattling gurgling noise in the throat, however, which must not be mistaken for roaring. Many of the clearest winded horses will do it when very passionate and excited, or when pulled severely with a sharp bit.

I have known horses rejected by veterinary surgeons of limited experience, and others, for this cause, but I have never known one of them turn roarers. The usual causes of roaring are these:

1. Thickening of the bronchial tubes.

2. Paralysis of the left recurrent nerve and the muscles amongst which it ramifies.

3. Thickening of the tracheal tube, caused by inflammation or abscesses.

4. Exostosis of the cartilages.

I have thought fit to name the usual causes of this malady, not that the knowledge of them can in any way tend to effectual treatment, but to show that the causes of the disease are more or less occult during life; and, therefore, that when men undertake to cure this or that case of roaring by such means as firing the larynx, the use of blisters, caustic, &c., with doses of strychnine, they undertake what they cannot perform, and unjustifiably raise the hopes of the owner, which

must sooner or later be blighted, as well as put the poor horse to unnecessary torture.

That roaring is quite uncurable there can be no doubt, notwithstanding the many instances in which various modes of treatment are said to have been successful.

And when I make this assertion, I allude merely to chronic, and not to acute cases of roaring. Acute cases are frequently the consequences of swelling in strangles, and, causing an obstruction, make the horse roar lustily. These causes can undoubtedly be cured by proper treatment, such as giving emetic tartar in doses of two drachms daily, for a week, and applying repeated blisters composed of iodine and mercury to the larynx.

Roaring is hereditary, in my opinion, in nine cases out of ten, and in predisposed constitutions (or constitutions which have a tendency to irritation of the bronchial tubes) will show itself sooner or later.

The only mode of warding off this disease is by keeping such animals as are predisposed to its ravages in good condition and regular work all the year round, carefully avoiding all exciting causes of inflammatory attacks, both in and out of the stable, which should be cool, airy, and well drained.

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CHAPTER IV.

DISEASES OF THE ABDOMEN.

INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.

THIS is a very painful disease, and may be ascertained by the horse holding up one or other of his fore legs during the spasms, and turning round to look at his side very frequently, and especially after feeding.

Sometimes, though seldom, this disease assumes an acute form, and the horse seems to be suddenly attacked with gripes, and to be suffering intense agony.

All food should be removed, and small doses of calomel given morning and evening, until the symptoms show signs of abatement. It will be well to unite with the doses of calomel the same quantity of powdered opium.

Chronic cases of diseases of the liver are unfortunately of very frequent occurrence amongst horses which are very highly fed and worked severely, such as horses in training, &c., and its existence is rarely ever discovered until revealed by post-mortem examination. I have found in this case one ounce of extract of chamomile, given daily for a week, with change of food, the only certain remedy.

DYSENTERY-DIARRHEA.

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DYSENTERY.

Dysentery consists of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the intestines, attended by an increased secretion, which is discharged with hard and stringy fæces accompanied by perpetual straining.

The treatment should consist of a quart of linseed oil every six hours, until the intestines be cleared of their contents. Bran mashes, carrots, and hay should be the sole food for a week subsequently.

DIARRHEA.

Diarrhoea is easily distinguished from dysentery by the evacuations being loose and watery, without the existence of mucus. It is most commonly met with among horses of a weedy washy formation, by means of which the peristaltic action is unnaturally increased, when it is a primary affection; but it is usually occasioned by superpurgation from over-physicking. Active measures in the latter case must speedily be taken. One ounce of laudanum in a drench of rice water and chalk should be given every three hours during the first day; after which, boiled starch allowed to get moderately cool should be administered, with the same quantity of laudanum, every six hours. If the symptoms do not lessen within twenty-four hours, a fatal result may be expected.

In all cases which have been allowed to go on for three or four days, danger is present. Where the dis

ease is the result of primary affection give opium, powdered catechu, and chalk of each half an ounce, morning and evening, with bean meal and rice water as the sole variety of diet.

During convalescence give Peruvian bark and aniseed, half an ounce of each, with an increased quantity of beans, on alternate weeks for a month.

COLIC.

Colic consists of a spasmodic contraction of the muscular coat of the intestines, and it is most frequently confined to the small intestines; but sometimes the large intestines as well as the bladder are involved. When it is accompanied by great inflation of the abdomen it is termed flatulent colic, and should be treated by copious injections of warm water with the enema, which will be sufficient to cure the attack in most cases; but occasionally the case will demand the operation of puncturing.

In the case of spasmodic colic, stimulating medicines must be used, such as spirit of turpentine and laudanum, of each two ounces, in a drench of hot ale, given every half hour until the pain lessens. Give on the next day a mild physic ball. Horses of certain strains of blood are very subject to colic and should be avoided, for it is sure to terminate their career sooner or later, and frequently when in the most blooming condition and highest state of usefulness. Gross feeders and

horses with great swill bellies are generally subject to this disease.