364 STABLE ECONOMY. 



be put on the throat, tight enough to prevent dilatation of the 

 gullet, yet not to stop the return of blood from the head. 



There is a kind of muzzle sometimes used for the purpose 

 of preventing crib-biting among valuable horses. Its most 

 essential part is a kind of rack, consisting of two iron spars 

 jointed at each extremity, and curved to receive the muzzle. 

 The spars are about three fourths of an inch broad ; the space 

 between them is wide enough to receive the lips, and let 

 them seize the grain and hay, but so narrow that it will not 

 admit the teeth. The horse can eat well enough ; he can 

 reach his food with the lips, but he can seize nothing with 

 his fore teeth. This muzzle is better than a strap, which 

 disposes the horse to swelling of the head, and is blamed for 

 producing roaring. 



Wind-sucking consists in swallowing air without applying 

 the teeth to any fixture. The horse presses his lips against 

 the edge of the manger, having his neck and back arched, 

 and his feet all gathered together. This habit does not seem 

 to be so often injurious as crib-biting. It is said that a 

 muzzle, having three or four short sharp spikes at bottom, 

 will prevent it. The points run into the lips when the horse 

 attempts to place them in position for sucking or swallowing 

 air. 



Megrims [or Epilepsy]. — Some horses are liable to giddi- 

 ness at work. It is not the same as choking or swooning in 

 the collar. It seems to be a kind of apoplexy. The horse 

 drops without the least warning, lies for a few seconds insen- 

 sible, and then rises somewhat confused. After two or three 

 attacks, the horse is sure to have more. Saddle-horses are 

 not exempt. These horses should be kept at slow work in 

 double harness. Their work and feeding should be always 

 the same. Excess or deficiency of what they are accus- 

 tomed to, renders the attacks more frequent. Physic may be 

 given thrice a year or oftener. The food should never be 

 constipating. The bearing-rein should always be free. If 

 the horse be observed to stagger, he should be pulled up, and 

 allowed to stand two or three minutes. When he falls, he 

 needs nothing but time to recover his senses. 



Blind Horses should not be placed within reach of a mis- 

 chievous neighbor. They can not defend themselves nor get 

 out of the way. In harness the wheel suits them better than 

 the lead. When only one eye is lost., the horse should work 

 on the side from w r hich he sees 



