144 



THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



upper bill of the parrot. The lower incisors are liable, 

 also from overgrowth, to injure the roof of the mouth. 

 Grazing is difficult and sometimes almost impracticable ; 

 but the animal may be fed from the manger. The rem- 

 edy is usually only palliative. Forceps, files, and surgical 



■Mill 



iiiBSPi 

 iiiIifSjB 



ml 



»1SS= 



mmm 



Br 



mia&r 



Fig. 36. Parrot-Mouth ; teeth grown ten lines too long. 



skill are required, not only for parrot-mouth, but for many 

 other irregularities of the teeth, molars as well as incisors. 



CRIB-BITING 



Is doubly injurious to the horse. It wears and some- 

 times breaks its teeth and gives it the colic — crib-biters* 

 cojk; — which is caused by the sucking in of air. Fur- 

 ther, loss of saliva impairs digestion. The vice is a spe- 

 cies of unsoundness. Breaking the front teeth interferes 

 with grazing. 



Remedy. — Iron stable fittings. Manger, when not in 

 use, turned into recess in wall. Use muzzle or spiked 

 neck-strap. Concentrated, digestible food. Chalk, ant- 

 acids, and an occasional laxative relieve the indigestion 

 from which crib-biters usually suffer. Separate crib-biters 

 from other horses, as they imitate and acquire the habit. 

 For a list of antacids, see page 31. 



