THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 357 



CUTTING. — {Interfering.) 



Horses are said to cut, or interfere, when they strike the inner 

 side of the fetlock joint with the hoof or shoe of the opposite 

 foot. It generally arises either from an unnatural curvature in- 

 wards of the limbs, twisting in of the toe, from shelving of the 

 hoof, and from errors in shoeing. It may also arise in conse- 

 quence of weakness and fatigue, during a long journey over 

 heavy and uneven roads ; the subject is apt, also, at such times, — 

 especially when the toe has a faulty position inwards, — to strike 

 on the inside of the knee, and produce an inflammatory swelling, 

 termed speedy cut, which sometimes takes a long time to reduce. 

 It is evident, therefore, that, in order to remedy the evil, we 

 must ascertain its causes ; yet, in the majority of cases, we have 

 to depend on the blacksmith and a careful driver for a cure ; 

 the physician has nothing to offer but advice and palliatives. 



GENERALITIES. 



CRIBBING. — {Crib Biti?ig.)* 



The act of cribbing consists in grasping the crib, or a given 

 point, with one or both jaws, at the same time uttering a laryn- 

 geal sound, resembling a grunt. A cribbing horse has generally 



* " Although the abnormal action with horses known under the appellation 

 of crib biting is so frequently observed, it is still one far from being sufficiently 

 understood. Many of our best veterinary authors have furnished dissertations 

 on the subject ; but these present great variety of opinion touching the causes, 

 seat, nature, and consequences of crib biting. Whilst one contends that, in 

 the act, the horse swallows atmospheric air, another contends that the animal 

 ejects air, which act is accompanied with a particular noise, created by gas 

 generated in the stomach. Some say that the habit is injurious to the horses 

 that practise it, and that it frequently renders them valueless ; while others 

 maintain that it nowise materially hurts them. The Court (of Appeal) has 

 pronounced in favor of its innocuousness. 



" By this we are led to distinguish crib biting into that which is acquired by 

 habit, habitual, and that which is properly so called, and which is spontaneous. 



" The opinion which regards crib biting as discharging air from the stomach, 



