Roaring in Horses.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 425, 4 December 1889, Page 3

Roaring in Horses.

Thk following article on fchis important subject is taken from Dr. George Fleming's latent work on horses :—: —

Exclusion of Unsound Horses for Breeding. Numerous articles and incontestable iacts pointing to hereditary predisposition a» a potent factor in the genesis of roaring, it becomes imperative, in order to diminish its frequency, to exclude from bleeding, be they male or female, horses which are already suffering from the defect. This is a severe measure, knowing the high value of pome horses, due to their excellent qualities.: but its uigent necessity is ob\ious. Of course, this measure applies more specially to animals in whose ancestors roaring has been noted for two, three, or more generations, and in which it has become evident without any, or apparently a very slight assignable cause, especially at an early age. For it must be remembered that the defect may arise from a number of what may be termed " remote causes," such as pleurisy, pneumonia, pericarditis, congestion of the lunirs or pleurn, strangles, etc. Without hereditary precisposition exists in a horse, wo have no means ot ascertaining, except by instituting inquiries into his pedigree ; for this tendency, in all probability, consistsin transmitted anatomical peculiarities, which form the causa internet, and therefore undiscoverable agencies, in the origin of roaring.

Cake ov Vouxu Horses. I have already alluded to the abnormal precocity which is forced upon very young thorough-bred horses as a likely cause in predisposing them to roaring, and I think this has been too much lo?b sight of in accounting for the greater and mci easing prevalence of the defect among them. For other breed?, as the coarser and heavier horses and ponies — which are not &o abused in their very juvenile days, and are allowed to develop in a more natural manner — there is no necessity to insist upon this predisposing cause being abolished, as the defect is rare in them : bub for the thoroughbreds, upon which the perfecting of our speed horse. 0 must depend, such injurious, prematuie treatment as they now receive merits earnest condemnation. Until a horse has reached an advanced state of development its organs and tissues cannot be subjected to severe wear and strain witn impunity, no matter how much that development may be foiced artificially. Growth maybe accelerated, but with it consolidation is required to consbibutematurity; but this cannot be' easily controlled, or huiriedly brought about. Natuie cannob be coerced beyond a certain degree without resenting the compulsion ; and to exact exertion from a two - year - old horse as if he were a four-year-old, no matter how he may be stimulated to growth by hot stable* and rich food, cannot be otherwise than damaging to him, and especially to the organs of respiration, circulation and locomotion. By dofening the training and racing of thorough- breds for a year or two, the predisposition to this and other damaging effects would be immensely lessened, it not altogether got rid of, and a more healthy and u eful race of hoises ensured. In cold, damp countries, and especially those on which there are sudden falls and rises in temperature, in order to maintain horses lib for labour and, indeed, as an e*»eubial element in their improvement, they must be protected from the effects of climate by lodging them in stables and keeping them > comfortable i Bub unless much care is exercised in this house, harm is done, and a predisposition to disease of the respiratory organ especially. Badly-Ventilated and over-heuted stable* are eminently prejudicial to the health of horses, and it is in bhe&>e that we find those fevers and disorders prevailing which are so essential, and it should be rather cool than hot. If the horses must be kept warm during cold weather, then this should' be done by clothing the body, and, if need be, the limb? 1 . This treatment has been insisted upon by the -experienced horsebreeders, who have not ceased to point out the injury inflicted upon horses by hot, foul stabjes. Admiral Rous, for instance, speaking of roaring in race horses, mentions the advantages of cool stables and fresh air, and says :—": — " I have no doubt that roarers might be improved a stone' if they were trained from an open shed, sheltered from vet and rain, keeping them warmly clothed and always in the open air." , The hygienic management which is best adapbed to prevent the occurrence of coughs, colds, fever?, pleurisies, pneumonias, and other affections of the air passages and chesb is that which will afford most security against the development of roaring, whether or not the predisposition to it be present in horses. Everything' should be done to prevent their being attacked by strangles — a very infectious disease, pproading only by its infectious properties, and which, in western countries at least, is io frequently followed by roaring. Indeed, so marked has this sequel been in my experience among horses that, for some years, while I was a regimental veterinary surgeon, I treated every case 1 of strangles in such a way that, in my opinion, injury to the left recurrent nerve was less likely to occur trom pressure upon it by enlarged broi.ohial lymphatic glands. This treatment chieuj consisted in the administration of iodide of potassium or iodine of iion, and I havo reason to believe that it was very successful. Food docs nob appear to have so much influence in predisposing to the affection as is often imagined ; and there is no reason why it should, so long as it is not of a toxic nature.