288 NAVIN ox THE HORSE. 



ner, uttering a sort of guttural sound, or grunt. That the air 

 has something to do with the production of this sound is cer- 

 tain, but just exactly in what way is not so well understood. 

 Some contend that in the act air is forced into the stomach, 

 while others think it is performed for the purpose of expelling 

 air from the stomach which already existed there. It has also 

 been supposed that in the act air is first forced into the stomach, 

 and then expelled. I have seen a man swallow tobacco-smoke 

 and then force it out of the stomach by belching, some seconds 

 afterward. This operation is done by a similar action to that of 

 the crib-biter. ]N"ow, from the motions and peculiar exertions 

 of the horse, and the sounds observed in the act of crib-biting, 

 I have no doubt of a portion of the wind being taken into the 

 stomach. But when we reflect that belching is not even possi- 

 ble with the horse, even when it is evident the stomach is much 

 distended with gas, as in cases of colic, it can hardly be sup- 

 posed that the crib-biter can have acquired so readily the art 

 of expelling wind from his stomach. 



But the most important question to determine is, does the 

 habit, or vice, of cribbing injure the health of the horse and 

 constitute unsoundness ? That it does injure the health I think 

 no close observer can doubt. The horse addicted to it almost 

 invariably falls away in flesh, and is much more liable to colic 

 than other horses. I believe none doubt that they are generally 

 subjects of some form of indigestion. 'That the vice is most 

 likely the cause of indigestion, and not indigestion the cause of 

 the vice, I think tolerably well proved from the fact that colts, 

 when first taken from the pasture, are often confirmed cribbers. 

 And again, the habit is as often contracted by horses that have 

 been to all appearance in the best of health. Such a thing as 

 a crib-biter with a good, healthy coat can hardly be found. 



Now, let us sum up the facts referred to. In the first place, 

 we have presented a horse with an admitted vice, so disgust- 

 ing and so annoying that he can not be used without all those 

 finer pleasures which we derive from the use of the horse 



