3(5 THE DISEASES OF IIORSES, 



by want of vitality, or brisk circulation, the groom cannot, therefore, 

 give them too much friction, and in cases where horses are predisposed 

 to it, I would recommend after washing and drying, to rub a little of 

 this liniment over the heels. 



Liniment for Craclced Heels.— Spirits of wine ioz., Goulard's extract 

 loz., olive oil G^oz. 



Arsenic is given as an alterative in obstinate cases, from its action 

 on the skin, but its use is best left to the professional man. 



Cramp.— See Colic. 



Crib-biting. — There are few moro undesirable animals to possess than 

 a crib-biter. Not only is the habit a most unpleasant one to witness, 

 but as a rule it renders the horse incapable of doing his work, at least 

 with that dash and energy that is so pleasing, and they generally present 

 a lean and lank appearance most annoying to a man who takes a pride 

 in his cattle, and who knows that his liberal system of feeding and general 

 care should produce a more creditable result. Crib-biters are also more 

 subject to colic than others, and as some hold that the habit is contracted 

 by imitatation they are not desirable inmates of a stable. The general 

 opinion leans to crib-biting as being a result of some derangement of the 

 digestive organs, and that may be brought about in many ways, through 

 unhealthy stables, bad keep, musty oats or hay, &c, but it also comes on 

 horses well fed, and more particularly those kept too much to sameness of 

 food, and too closely confined to the stable. Youatt suggests as an occasional 

 cause the groom dressing the horse in the stable where he can get hold of the 

 manger with his teeth. The habit is too well known to need much descrip- 

 tion—the " cribber " lays hold of the edge of the manger or any other 

 convenient place, and, stretching out his neck with a convulsive action, 

 seems to belch out a little wind with an unpleasant grunt, he will then 

 gulp down air till his belly swells and till, in some instances, he is evidently 

 in pain, and, pawing and striking with his fore feet, lies down and rolls as in 

 gripes. 



The effect of cribbing is sometimes to break, always to wear the teeth ; 

 crib-biting is often done when feeding and with the mouth full, so that it 

 causes great waste of corn, and as much saliva in this way escapes, diges- 

 tion is interfered with by the loss of it, and by the imperfect mastication 

 through broken or worn teeth, it keeps up the indigestion which may have 

 been its own original cause. The most effectual treatment for a crib biter is 

 to render the habit impossible by putting him under the restraint of a 

 bar muzzlo, which is so made as to enable the horse to reach his hay, 

 &c, with his lips and tongue, but not to take hold of any object such as the 

 edge of the manger, with his teeth. A simpler and much cheaper appliance 

 is the strap round the throat ; but to be effectual it must be worn so tight 

 as to run the risk of setting up local inflammation, and thus create a greater 

 evil than it is designed to cure. 



Tonics given regularly as an aid to digestion will prove beneficial, and 

 Mayhew recommends a lump of rock salt in the manger, and the corn 



