358 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



been considered unsound, but we know not on what grounds; for 

 we look upon a horse as sound so long as he can perform the 

 duties of an ordinary horse without inconvenience or lameness: 

 he may have defects, both as regards form and action ; but such 

 are not to be construed into unsoundness. It is a remarkable 

 fact that very few cribbers fail to perform the duties required of 

 them. They may, once in a while, have an attack of colic ; but 



similar to belching in ourselves, is evidently an erroneous one, since it implies 

 that the act is one of absolute necessity. Now, it is well known that by va- 

 rious means we have it in our power to prevent crib biting in some horses for a 

 longer or shorter time ; but in doing this we never hear of any evil conse- 

 quences arising from its suppression. Indeed, if such were true, horses ought 

 to blow themselves out with the gas, which, instead of eructating, they are 

 now compelled to retain. And, moreover, did crib biting consist in eructation, 

 gas might make its escape through the nose, and then the animal would have 

 no occasion for that violent movement which characterizes crib biting. 



" To those who pretend that crib biting consists in swallowing atmospheric 

 air, in order to aid the digestion of horses addicted to the vice, I reply, without 

 entering into any physiological considerations, that if, by any means, the crib 

 biting be put a stop to for several months together, the horse digests quite as 

 well without as with the vice : of this I have often had occasion to convince 

 myself. 



" The explication given by Professor Gurlt, of crib biting with eructation,* 

 supplies the reason of the difference of opinion we have adverted to, and 

 is quite conformable to what one daily observes. M. Gurlt asserts that the 

 crib biter swallows air, which he the same instant rejects ; but that, neverthe- 

 less, in particular cases, a portion of the air, having descended into the oesopha- 

 gus, does not reascend into the pharynx, but penetrates into the stomach, into 

 which it is forced by the contraction of the wall of the oesophagus. M. Strant, 

 who has written an admirable memoir f on crib biting in horses, admits of the 

 view of the matter taken by Guilt, which he explains in this way : ■ The ani- 

 mal, when he incurvates his head upon his breast, does so to gain a point 

 d'appui, in order to force a certain quantity of atmospheric air into the phar- 

 ynx, and thus overcome, in this act, the natural impediment offered by the 

 velum palati and fauces ; the larynx is elevated, while coincident muscular con- 

 traction draws up the fauces to receive the swallowed air. At this moment 

 the horse relaxes in his effort, (crib biters in the air effect the movement in 

 slight elevation of the head,) and then the air swallowed flows back, and escapes 

 with the characteristic sound. With old crib biters we may convince ourselves, 

 by auscultation, that the sound attendant on the act is in truth produced at 

 the moment cf the evacuation of the air; and with horses in which the air 

 reaches the stomach, a second faint, supplementary sound may be heard along 



* Nachtr'ige zur Pathologischen Anatomie, von Gurlt, p. 69. 



f Repertorium des Tluerheilkunde, heraiusgegeben von Hering, 1850, p. 190. 



