Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1893-05-19
cR,5elNG IS uNSouNDNEsS.
A Horse That Is a Persistent Cribber Is
Diseased.


In its healthy and quiescent state it
would be impossible for horse to take
air into the mouth and pass it down the
esophagus into the stomach and bowels,
but in the act of cribbing the natural po-
sition and health functions of the jaws,
palate, epiglottis, esophagus and the
muscles concerned in this peculiar act
are exercised in an abnormal way.
Thus is shown physiological derange-
nent of all those parts in the act of crib
hing. Hence we find the horse swallow
ing air enough to distend to great de-
gree the stomach and bowels, which is n
fact that is indisputable and known to
every person that has been unfortunate
enough TO get into his hands horse that
was a confirmed cribber.
There are as many grades OF severity
in the disease of cribbing as there are OF
Inflammation of the brain, of the lungs.
of the stomach or any other organ OF the
body. This difference in the severity Of
the disease accounts for the small quan
tity of air that some cribbers are enabled
TO swallow. 1t is not sufficient to dis
tend the bowels beyond healthy condi-
ton. A mild case like this would lead a
person unacquainted with the disease
and the effects thereof to suppose that he
did not take in the air at all. Yet he
does. but not enough to disturb the nor
nal condition of the stomach and bowels
SO as to be noticed by casual observer
II has been remarked that cribbing
horses are lank and lean, yet have bulky
abdomens containing gas. Now, II this
gas was not taken in the act of cribbing,
but was the result Of primary indiges-
| ton. that could be removed and his bulky
abdomen brought to its proper size and
his lank and lean condition greatly i'm
proved. but these improvements cannot
be made with the cribbing horse because
YOU cannot remove the cause, which Is q
nervous longing, a mental desire that is
| gratified in the act of cribbing. BY TIN:
abnormal condition of the brain and
nervous system the digestive organs arr
not supplied with their due amount OF
nervous influence.
This of itself is sufficient to produce
lank and lean dyspeptic horse, in which
the food would not be digested and con
verted into chyme, chyle and blood fol
the renovation of the system, but in adj
dition TO that there is so much air swal
lowed in the act of cribbing to CRAFTY
this mental disease as to exclude the pos
sibility of healthy digestion.
If there is any proof wanted to estab
lish the theory that horse that cribs
is diseased horse, | will refer yor
TO a stallion that was cribber fire
ouently saw. Many of his colts as they
grew up became inveterate cribbers
| Now. this goes TO show that 1t is a dis
ease coursing in the system and giveI
off in the act of COTTON. | also knew ;
mare that produced colt that became
cribber before it was 9 months old.
frequently saw mare ond colt standing
at the fence as passed along the roa'
cribbing as if they were in dead earnes
to see which could beat, and on turnin'
them away from the fence they would a
once return TO the act with renewe'
vigor
Hence horse that cribs is an unsoun'
one, and the phenomenon OF cribbing
the symptom of that peculiar disease o
the brain and nervous system which con
stitutes the primary unsoundness. In
indigestion and fatulency are the effect
thereof. - Isaiah Michener, V. b. 4
Breeders Gazette.