562 NEKVOUS DISEASES. 



tion of the gullet and of the stomach ; injury to the walls of the 

 stomach ; and chronic inflammation of the stomach and intestines. 



PREVENTION.— Being aware of the evil influence of imitation 

 among young horses in the acquisition of this vice, we should be 

 very careful, even among foals, to protect them against it. 



The only certain means, with which I am acquainted, for pre- 

 venting the cribber or windsucker from practising his ^dce, are 

 those which render it impossible for him to perform the somewhat 

 difficult feat of swallowing air, and which may be applied in the 

 following ways: — 



1. By preventing him from compressing the mouthful of air 

 which he intends to force into his gullet. We may effect this by 

 putting on a bridle of Vhich the mouthpiece is a perforated cy- 

 linder. For the object in question, the natives of India have used 

 from time immemorial this contrivance in the form of a piece of 

 female bamboo with holes bored in it. The great objection to the 

 carrying-out of this principle is the fact that the continued pre- 

 sence of any kind of bit in the mouth will make the mouth sore 

 in a few days. 



2. By preventing the animal from drawing in his chin towards 

 his breast, which w^e can do by fixing a stick or other object of 

 suitable length, below his neok, between the chin and breast. 



3. By rendering the muscles which draw in the chin and which 

 arch the neck, unable to contract. We can accomplish this by 

 buckling a strap — ^whioh should be broad, so as to avoid injury to 

 the mane — round the neck at its narrowest part (just behind the 

 angles of the lower jaw^), at such a degree of tightness that it will 

 prevent the muscles from contracting, but will not interfere with 

 the breathing or with the swallowing of food or water. We may 

 note that decrease in the length of a muscle on contracting, is ac- 

 companied by increase in its thickness ; and that the muscular 

 effort required to swallow air is far greater than that w'hich is 

 necessary for swallowing food or water. 



The contrivances respectively mentioned in the two preceding 

 paragraphs, are, for increasing their effect, sometimes provided 

 with spikes, the use of which is not without danger. The stick, 

 strap, and other appliances for a like object, may be obtained from 

 a saddler or veterinary instrument maker. 



For preventing cribbing with the teefh, we may use, during the 

 intervals between feeding hours, a specially made bar muzzle, which, 

 while checking this practice, will allow the horse to eat his hay. 

 The crib-biter may be picketed in his stall by one fore leg in front, 

 and by the opposite hind leg behind, instead of being tethered in the 

 usual manner by a rope or chain to his headstall. Or he may be 



