238 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



these opinions were correct, to remove this destructive pro- 

 pensity, recourse must necessarily be had to the Materia 

 Medica, and the animal should be treated according to the 

 rules of veterinary science. That these judgments must be 

 erroneous, I prove clearly by the system I have established, 

 which enables me to eradicate crib-biting and wind-sucking 

 without the aid of medicine. ^ 



My attention, as I have before stated, has been directed 

 to the prevention and cure of this destructive malady during 

 a long period ; and although I may dissent from many very 

 respectable authorities, I must remark, that, during the 

 whole course of my experience, I have uniformly observed 

 that a crib-biter (as well as wind-sucker) inhales air into 

 the stomach, which, from its construction, he cannot exhale 

 or degurgitate; for horses, unlike dogs and many other ani- 

 mals, can neither belch nor vomit, consequently in its pro- 

 gress through the stomach and bowels, the oxygen, or elas- 

 tic property of the air, is taken up by the system, which 

 causes a redundancy of fixed air in the abdominal parts — 

 hence arises flatulency, which of course produces indiges- 

 tion, general debility, and an impaired stamina; and these 

 alarming effects, if not attended to and removed, must na- 

 turally lead to disorders of dangerous tendencies. 



To broach an opinion of this import is, I know, in oppo- 

 sition to the sentiments entertained by many hippologists; 

 and that I may be clearly understood by every reader, I 

 have purposely avoided the use of scientific words or tech- 

 nical phraseology, and expressed my meaning in plain un- 

 assuming language. 



Others, however, of acknowledged skill and ability in 

 their profession have lately had the liberality to confess, 

 that, on mature consideration of the subject, they considered 

 I was correct, and encouraged me to proceed in my course. 



With much labour, patience, and perseverance, I aimed 

 at the discovery of the proximate cause of crib-biting. 

 My studies have been practical, for I could meet with no 

 satisfactory information in books. I made experiments of 

 various kinds, repeated and improved them, and thus ap- 

 proached nearer to my object, till at length I had the plea- 

 sure of perceiving that I was in the right track. 



That the crib-biter inhales more air into the stomach than 

 he can exhale, I am convinced; and on that conviction have 

 founded my system for the treatment of the malady; the ap- 

 plication of which I may assert without presumption, cannot 

 fail of success, if attended to with sincerity and good will 

 on the part of grooms and other stable domectics. 



A crib-biter of any standing becomes soured in temper; 

 his natural strength soon gives way; weakness more or less 

 ensues; and he is rendered unfit for a proper day's work: 

 yet horses labouring under the effects of this propensity are 

 expected by their proprietors to perform the most violent 



exertions, and the fleetest and most rapid efforts are requir- 

 ed of them! Hunting, racing, in short every duty is im- 

 posed indiscriminately with sound animals, till the poor 

 beast sinks prematurely under his accumulated misery, and 

 is thus rendered unserviceable many years before his natu- 

 ral term. Under kind and judicious treatment, the horse 

 would be much longer lived than is generally supposed, as 

 existing facts testify. 



Various remedies, purporting to be infallible, for vicious 

 horses have of late years been put forth to the world, but 

 nothing has in reality been gained by them. I allude to tor- 

 turing straps, bands, and other vexatious applications, which 

 only tend to sour the disposition of the animal, and on their 

 removal leave him more inveterately addicted to his evil 

 habits. Others, from want of a better remedy, have re- 

 course to loathsome and nauseous experiments, which are as 

 futile as they are disgusting, and cannot possibly be expect- 

 ed to produce any permanently good effects; for as the mat- 

 ter or ordure employed dries and hardens, it naturally loses 

 its effluvia, and consequently requires repetition to make the 

 process adopted effectual, even if it were proper to pursue it 

 An accumulation of filth on the manger is the result; and 

 we all know that that utensil should be kept particularly 

 clean. I have no patience when I reflect on such proceed- 

 ings. It is obvious to any one conversant with horses, that 

 a filthy stable is the forerunner of disease. The only conse- 

 quence emanating from conduct so inconsiderately ignorant 

 is, that the silly attendant, for his own convenience, is soon 

 compelled to remove the dirt, gaining nothing but addition- 

 al labour for his assumed sagacity. 



He who pretends to correct the horse, by inventing appa- 

 ratus with that view, should previously study the nature and 

 character of the animal, in addition to the contemplation of 

 his own emolument. To exemplify this observation, let us 

 consider for a moment the fate of the straps with the spring 

 and spikes. They were introduced under the protection of 

 weighty patronage; and all that influence could do was 

 adopted to facilitate their reception in the highest quarters, 

 and render their adoption general. They were predomi- 

 nant for a time, and were probably esteemed by persons 

 unacquainted with the matter, who received the ipse dixit 

 of others as truth "sacred as Holy Writ;" and accordingly 

 the straps were considered and recommended by many per- 

 sons as a certain cure for crib-biters. However, when es- 

 sayed by those whose knowledge and intelligence could 

 be relied on, it was discovered that they could never fulfil 

 the object promised to purchasers, and not the most distant 

 prospectof efficacy could be entertained. Their application 

 only served to alarm, irritate, and tease the horse, without 

 producing any beneficial effects; and on their removal, he 

 was generally found as inveterately addicted to his propen- 



