HORSE DOCTOR. 33 



unsoundness We must not look to the state of the dis- 

 ease at tlic time of'pui chase . H'he question is, does it 

 exist at all? A case was tried before Lord Tenterden, 

 and thus decided : "a horse witli crib-biting^ is unsound." 



It is one of tliose tricks \\ liich are exceedin<^ly con- 

 tasrious. Every companion of a crib-biter in the same 

 stables is likely to acquire the habit, and it is the most 

 inveterate of all habits. The edji^e of the manger will 

 in vain be lined with iron, or with sheep-skin, or with 

 sheep-skin covered with tar or aloes, or any other un- 

 pleasant substance. In defiance of tfie annoyance 

 which these may occasion, the horse wiil persist in the 

 attack on his manger. A strap buckled tightly round 

 the neck, by compressing the wind-pipe, is the best means 

 of preventing the possibility of this trick ; but the strap 

 must be constantly worn, and its pressure is too apt to 

 produce a worse atfection, viz: an irritation in the wind 

 pij)e, which terminates in roaring. 



Some have recommended turning out for five or six 

 months; but this has never succeeded except with a 

 young horse, and then rarely. The old crib-biter will 

 employ the gate for the same purpose as the edge of his 

 manger, and we have often seen him galloping across a 

 field for the mere object of having a gnpe at a rail. 

 Medicine will be altogether thrown away in this case. 



The only remedy is a muzzle, with bais across the 

 bottom; sufficiently wide to enable the animal to pick 

 up his corn and pull his hay, but not to grrasp the edge 

 of the manger. If this is worn for a conside'able period, 

 the horse may be tired of attempting that which he can- 

 not accomplish, and for a while forget the, habit, but, in 

 a majority of cases, the desire of crib-biting will return 

 with the power of gratifying it. 



, The causes of crib-biting are various, and sotne of 

 them beyond the control of the proprietor of the horse. 

 It is often tlie result of inntalion ; but it is more fre- 

 quently the consequence of idleness.- The high-led and 

 spirited horse must be in mischief if he is not usefully 

 en ployed. Sometimes, but we believe not often, it is 

 produced by partial starvation, whether in a bad straw- 



