TIIEJR PATIIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. 37 



and cut stuff to be sprinkled with magnesia. If the digestive powers are 

 carefully strengthened, and the horse is caused to wear the muzzle a suffi- 

 cient length of time, he may forget the bad habit, but a crib-biter is a horse 

 to be carefully avoided in adding to our equine stock. In law it consti* 

 tutes unsoundness. 



Curb.— A curb is a hard callous swelling on the hind part of the hock, 

 and some inches below its point. A horse throws out a curb suddenly 

 on being quickly pulled up in a fast gallop, or on taking an extra leap, 

 especially on hard unyielding ground. Tendency to curb is hereditary, 

 and it is therefore not desirable to breed from horse or mare with it 

 the progeny being specially liable to throw them out when called on for 

 rapid exertion. Sucn horses as are cow-hocked— that is, with the hocks 

 leaning in towards each other, and the legs as a consequence, bent oat 

 at an angle, as is peculiar to cows, — are very liable to have curbs, as the 

 formation causes a greater strain on the tendons of these parts. 



The cause is a sprain of the sheath of the tendons or of the ring-like 

 ligament that binds them, and, of course, there is at first inflammation, 

 so that the first thing to be done is to reduce that by the application of 

 poultices, or of tho cooling lotions (p. 9) such as has been prescribed 

 in other cases of local inflammation. A lotion composed as under will 

 answer. 



Cooling Lotion. — Equal parts of spirits of wine and strong vinegar to 

 three parts of cold water. 



It will also be necessary to attend to the diet, giving mashes, green food, 

 and, when sufficiently prepared for it, a dose of physic should be given. It 

 is also sometimes necessary to bleed from the thigh vein, but that only 

 when it is seen that the other means are ineffectual in reducing the inflam- 

 mation. When this has been successfully accomplished, a blister should 

 be applied, and the red iodide of mercury (p. 21) is the best for preventing 

 the formation of the hard and callous substance, or of dispersing it if 

 it has commenced to form ; the way to apply this has already been 

 explained. As the parts are always left much weakened, the horse should 

 have long rest, and be very gradually brought back to his work ; but the 

 sinews will bo much strengthened if, when the blister has healed and 

 during the time of rest, liberal application is made, with plenty of friction, 

 of a good stimulating liniment. 



Diabetes or Profuse Staling'.— Diabetes is a disease to which the 

 horse is rarely subject, at least in its worst form, such as corresponds to 

 the diabetes mellitus of the human subject, although an immoderate 

 flow of urine is not so uncommon in stables where diuretics are too often 

 and injudiciously used; for it is a very common superstition that when 



