68 



ounce of bicarbonate of potassium, with half a drachm of chlorate of 

 potassium may be given in the drinking water twice daily, so long as the 

 disease lasts. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE TONGUE. 



Inflammation of the tongue is not often seen in the horse, except when' 

 resulting from the action of irritants or from mechanical injury. It may 

 follow on inflammation of the structures near it. The tongue becomes 

 swollen, hot, tense, and painful, and soon protrudes in consequence of its 

 increase in size. There is difficulty in swallowing, and saliva and mucus 

 accumulate in the mouth. Gargling firstly with warm water, and afterwards 

 with carbolic acid lotion (one in forty of water), or alum lotion (four drachms 

 in eight ounces of water), is very useful. We spoke, in treating of anthrax, 

 of a disease called glossanthrax, and this rare malady, we said, was nearly 

 always fatal. It has nothing to do with simple inflammation of the tongue, 

 though one of its chief manifestations is the enormous size which the organ 

 assumes. 



CRIB-BITING AND WIND-SUCKING. 



Crib-Biting is a habit in which the horse seizes hold of the manger with 

 his teeth, and forces out wind from the stomach. " In wind-sucking the 

 horse smacks his lips, gathers air into his mouth, extends his head or 

 presses it against some solid body, arches his neck, gathers his feet together, 

 and undoubtedly swallows air, blowing himself out sometimes to a tremendous 

 extent " (Williams). As may be imagined, the latter vice is more serious in 

 its consequences than the former, though both constitute unsoundness."^ 

 They both cause digestive derangement, but it seems not improbable that 

 wind-sucking may be an effect as well as a cause of indigestion and impaired 

 general health. Enforced idleness is one of the causes of these habits. 

 Other factors are dyspepsia, and imitation of animals addicted to these vices. 

 Crib-biting wears away the foremost edges of the central and lateral incisor 

 teeth, aTid by this worn appearance of the teeth, the habit of the horse is 

 easily detected. There are various ways in which these vices may be 

 prevented. The most common method is to place a strap round the neck 

 loose enough to allow the swallowing of food and drink, but too tight to 

 admit of the muscles of the neck being tightly contracted. 



*As we shall frequently have occasion to refer to the question of unsoundness, it seems ads'isable 

 to give our readers the legal interpretation of the term. It is as follows : — 



" If at the time of sale the horse has any e/iscase which either actually does diviinish the natural 

 usefulness of the animal, so as to make him less capable of work of any description, or which in its ordinary 

 progress ivill diminish the natural usefulness of the animal, this is unsoundness ; or if the horse has, 

 either from disease or accident, undergone any alteration oi structure, that either actually does at the 

 time, or in its ordinary effects will diminish the natural usefulness of the horse, such a horse is 

 unsound." (Lord Ellenborough in the case of Elton v. Brogden, 4 Camp. 281). 



It will be seen from this, that the term tinsoutuhiess is an extremely elastic one, and therefore 

 that the very greatest care should be taken in pronouncing a horse sound. 



