Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
In chronic roaring there is no evidence of any disease of the larynx
other than the wasted condition of the muscles in question. The disease
of the nerve is generally far from the larynx. Disease of parts
contiguous to the nerve along any part of its course may interfere with
its proper function. Enlargement of lymphatic glands within the chest
through which the nerve passes on its way back to the larynx is the most
frequent interruption of nervous supply, and consequently roaring. When
roaring becomes confirmed, medical treatment is entirely useless, as it
is impossible to restore the wasted muscle and at the same time remove
the cause of the interruption of the nervous supply. Before roaring
becomes permanent the condition may be benefited by a course of iodid of
potassium, if caused by disease of the lymphatic glands. Electricity has
been used with indifferent success. Blistering or firing over the larynx
is, of course, not worthy of trial if the disease is due to interference
of the nerve supply. The administration of strychnia (nux vomica) on the
ground that it is a nerve tonic with the view of stimulating the
affected muscles is treating only the result of the disease without
considering the cause, and is therefore useless. The operation of
extirpating the collapsed cartilage and vocal cord is believed to be the
only relief, and, as this operation is critical and can be performed
only by the skillful veterinarian, it will not be described here.
From the foregoing description of the disease it will be seen that the
name "roaring," by which the disease is generally known, is only a
symptom and not the disease. Chronic roaring is also in many cases
accompanied with a cough. The best way to test whether a horse is a
"roarer" is either to make him pull a load rapidly up a hill or over a
sandy road or soft ground; or, if he is a saddle horse, gallop him up a
hill or over soft ground. The object is to make him exert himself. Some
horses require a great deal more exertion than others before the
characteristic sound is emitted. The greater the distance he is forced,
the more he will appear exhausted if he is a roarer; in bad cases the
animal becomes utterly exhausted, the breathing is rapid and difficult,
the nostrils dilate to the fullest extent, and the animal appears as if
suffocation was imminent.
An animal that is a roarer should not be used for breeding purposes. The
taint is transmissible in many instances.
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