190 THE ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 



would defy all pulling, if they tried to run away. There is, and can be no 

 necessity, however, for using a bearing-rein so tight as to cramp the muscles ol 

 the head, or to injure and excoriate the angles of the lips. 



The following is the opinion of Nimrod, and to a more competent judge 

 we could not appeal : " As to the universal disuse of the bearing-rein with 

 English hoi'ses, it can never take place. The charge against it of cruelty at 

 once falls to the ground, because, to make a teamwork together in fast work, 

 every horse's head must be as much restrained by the coupling-rein as it would 

 be and is by the bearing- rein. Its excellence consists in keeping horses' 

 mouths fresh in enabling a coachman to indulge a horse with liberty of rein, 

 without letting him be all abroad, which he would be with his head quite loose, 

 and of additional safety to the coach horse, as proved by the fact of either that 

 or the crupper always giving way when he falls down. There are, however, 

 teams in which it may be dispensed with, and the horses have an advantage 

 in their working against hills. As to the comparison of the road coach-horses 

 on the Continent and our own, let any one examine the knees of the French 

 diligence and post horses, which are allowed perfect liberty of head, and he 

 will be convinced that the use of the bearing-rein does not keep 'them on their 

 legs V 



The mouth is injured much oftener than the careless owner suspects by 

 the pressure of a sharp bit. Not only are the bars wounded and deeply 

 ulcerated, but the lower jaw, between the tush and the grinders, is sometimes 

 worn even to the bone, and the bone itself affected, and portions of it torn 

 away. It may be necessary to have a sharp bit for the headstrong and obsti- 

 nate beast ; yet if that bit is severely and unjustifiably called into exercise, the 

 animal may rear, and endanger himself and his rider. There can, however, be no 

 occasion for a thousandth part of the torment which the trappings of the mouth 

 often inflict on a willing and docile servant, and which either render the mouth 

 hard, and destroy all the pleasure of riding, or cause the horse to become fretful 

 or vicious. 



Small ulcers are sometimes found in various parts of the mouth, said to be 

 produced by rusty bits, but oftener arising from contusions inflicted by the bit, 

 or from inflammation of the mouth. If the curb-bit is in fault, a snaffle or 

 Pelham-bit should be used. If there is inflammation of the mouth, a little 

 cooling medicine may be administered ; and to the ulcers themselves, tincture 

 of myrrh, diluted with water, or alum dissolved in water, rnay be applied with 

 advantage. 



THE BONES OF THE MOUTH. 



The bones in, and giving form to the mouth, are the superior maxillary or 

 upper jaw (&, p. 108, and /, p. 110), containing the grinders; the anterior max- 

 illary, or lower part of the upper jaw (6. p. 108, ;?, p. 110, r, p. Ill ), containing 

 the upper-nippers or cutting- teeth ; the palatine bone (below 8, p. Ill), and the 

 posterior maxillary or under jaw (a, p. 108, and w, p. Ill), containing all the 

 under-teeth. 



* New Sporting Magazine, vol. xiii. p. 99. and a source of very great pain. It is also 



The author of the " Essay on Humanity to disadvantageous when the horse is going up- 



Brutes," takes the same view of the subject, hill, because it prevents him from throwing 



" It is not," says he, " to the extent that has his whole weight into the collar. It cannot, 



been supposed an instrument of torture. It is however, be done without, especially in the 



absolutely necessary in fast work, and useful horse that is once accustomed to it ; but the 



on level ground. The objection to it is the poor animal needs not to be so tightly reined." 



tightness with which it is sometimes applied, The Obligation and Extent of Humanity 



and then it is a sad confinement to the head, to Brutes, by W. Fowatt, p. 149. 



