130 Bits and Bitting. 



of the jaws very frequently becomes its exciting cause. 

 Most persons conversant with horses must be aware 

 that certain glands lie just under the angles of the two 

 jaws, and run up in the direction of the ear. They are 

 the seat of the affection peculiar to young animals known 

 under the name of strangles. Now it is by no means 

 unfrequent, especially amongst the commoner kind of 

 horses, to find these glands large and flabby in their 

 textures. With well-bred and well-formed animals it is 

 often very difficult to find them at all under the skin. 

 Sometimes the abnormal size of these glands is evidently 

 constitutional, sometimes it is a consequence of disease — 

 strangles, for instance — and sometimes it arises wholly 

 from the pressure of the angles of the jaws, especially 

 when these lie too close together, and the rider or driver 

 has attempted to force a certain position, either by the 

 use of severe bits, or, what is still worse, a combination 

 of these with the bearing-rein in harness. 



If such a state of things be overlooked or neglected, 

 very serious consequences may arise. The forced press- 

 ure of the jaw-bone on these glands is sometimes per- 

 fectly excruciating to the animal, and it has recourse, to 

 the great astonishment of its ignorant rider or driver, to 

 all sorts of expedients to get rid of the intolerable pain. 

 It will refuse its work, or run away, or throw itself 

 down, or rear up, or do anything or everything in its 

 desperation, and the brute on its back or on the coach- 

 box knows no other remedy for it than " to flog the sulk 

 out of him," whereas the whole thing is probably the 

 result of bad bitting and bridling.* 



Many young horses, too, have been prematurely 

 blinded by undue pressure on the glands in question, 

 between which and the eye there is an intimate connect- 



* Why should not corporal punishment be inflicted on those who 

 disgrace themselves and our common humanity by ill-treating ani- 

 mals? It would be the nearest possible approach to retributive jus- 

 tice, and much more effectual than fine or imprisonment. 



