198 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



teeth is foiuKl much higher than the others, — a case by no 

 means very unfrequent, and which causes an inability to masti- 

 cate the food. IMastication may be impeded or prevented by 

 that state of the mouth which generally attends teething : it 

 may also be affected by an injudicious i;se of the bit, as is well 

 known in reijiments of cavalry, where it is too common.* 



During tlie time that horses are breaking, more particularly, 

 they are often hurt in the mouth by the pressure of the bit : 

 especially in that part where it bears when they are put upon 

 the bit, as it is termed ; that is, when their noses are reined in 

 towards the chest. The bit then bears on the under jaw between 

 the tush and the first grinder. The bone in this part being 

 thinly covered with gum, is often bruised and inflamed; and 

 being neglected, or rather the pi-essure being still continued, it 

 becomes carious, and a troublesome sore or sinus is the conse- 

 quence, and occasionally a portion of the bone is deprived of 

 nourishment and exfoliates. This sore, in feeding, becomes 

 filled with masticated hay, which, being discovered, is supposed 

 to be the cause of the sore ; and as common hay cannot be sup- 

 posed to be capable of such an effect, it is attributed to what the 

 grooms term squirrel-tail grass, that is, wild barley. This 

 severe bitting, though not always necessai-y, is the most effectual 

 method of subduing the temper of a stubborn horse that can be 

 adopted. It will more effectually cure restiveness than any 

 punishment that can be devised, and if properly conducted, will 

 make a mouth, or rather a temper, whatever the rider wishes it 

 to be ; for what is called softening or making the mouth is in 

 fact softening or making the temper. There is great danger, 

 however, of attempting to make the mouth at the time of riding, 

 by means of a running rein ; for if he is a stubborn or runaway 

 horse, there is great danger of throwing him down, and in the 

 most dangerous manner that can be. For, if he is determined 

 to run away, and the rider endeavours to prevent him by a 

 running rein, in drawing his nose down to his chest, he so 

 restrains the muscles of the shoulder that he must of necessity 

 pull him down topsy-turv3^ Since the body being propelled by 

 the muscles of the hind parts, the restraint thus imposed upon 



* Diseases of the teeth are rare as compared with the human subject; but 

 they occasionally occur, and are then more productive of injury than -with 

 man, inasmuch as the animal, when unable to masticate, is deprived of re- 

 quisite nourishment. When an animal, otherwise in health, becomes reduced 

 in flesh, and unable to feed, we may suspect a carious tooth if we find a 

 peculiar and offensive smell issuing from the mouth. A few years since, such 

 a case occurred in the stable of a high personage ; and the writer, on being 

 consulted, Ibund that a partially broken and carious tooth was the cause of 

 the mischief. The animal was cast, and the tooth (a molar) extracted by 

 means of a pair of large foi'ceps made for the purpose. The operation suc- 

 ceeded, and the animal perfectly recovered his condition, and still retains 

 it. — Ed. 



