280 THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES." 



ideas such terms represent shall be strictly defined. No word is more 

 common in the mouths of horsemen than "jibbing." It, however, 

 does not specially imply one act ; for there are many kinds of behavior 

 which are designated as "jibbing." Thus, a horse which is unable to 

 start, is called "a jibber." A quadruped which, in the middle of a 

 journey, shall be suddenly impelled to move in a backward direction, 

 is said to "jib." The animal which, upon hearing the command to 

 proceed, will commence throwing up its head, and, spite of chastisement, 

 shall bear in the opposite direction, is also supposed to have learned 

 the "vice" of "jibbing." 



"Jibbing" of every kind appears to be no "vice," but a nervous dis- 

 order, — a sort of equine epilepsy. A word, spoken sharply, can summon 

 the attack, which generally deprives the animal of all power of motion, 

 or forces it to move in a direction the opposite of the road on which it 

 wishes to proceed. The movements are independent of the will ; and if 

 any person will attentively inspect the countenance of the horse, when 

 in the act of "jibbing," the author imagines the real character of the 

 supposed "vice" must be recognized. When "jibbing" is exhibited, a 

 spasmodic fit has possession of the frame. It is useless to flog or to 

 inflict other tortures. The attack will last a certain time, and then, 

 perhaps, siiddenly vanish. No brutality can shorten its duration, though 

 cruelty, possibly, may lengthen the convulsion. 



On such occasions, however, various cruelties are commonly perpe- 

 trated ; but severity has then lost its power to quicken timidity. The 

 lash has ceased to influence ; while the human voice, though sent forth 

 in volume and exerted in the bitterest execration, no longer is invested 

 with the attributes of authority. The body is acted upon by a power 

 higher than mortal sway. The creature is then carried by disease above 

 tiiis world's malice. The whip or the signal to proceed may elicit only 

 a staggering motion, or a backward movement. At last the spell is 

 broken. The ability to guide the limbs suddenly is regained : but the 

 brain is congested and the senses confused. The creature, upon the 

 first partial recovery, may exhibit a desire to bolt — may, for an uncertain 

 period, be all but unconscious. Sometimes it will recover its powers 

 suddenly, almost as though its previous condition had been assumed. 

 On other occasions it may, under some impulse, tear onward, regardless 

 of the road, as though it sought to fly the scene of its late suff'ering, or 

 endeavor to lose the agony of convulsion in the rapidity of motion. 



The probability that such an act may conclude the fit of jibbing, 

 instructs us in the folly of adding the irritation of man's cruelty to the 

 pain necessarily accompanying acute disease. Severity can only lend 

 violence to the impulse which is almost certain to succeed the at iack. 



