CRIBBING. — (Crib Biting.}*
The act of cribbing consists in grasping the crib, or a given point, with one or both jaws, at the same time uttering a laryngeal sound, resembling a grunt. A cribbing horse has generally been considered unsound, but we know not on what grounds; for we look upon ahorse as sound so long as he can perform the duties of an ordinary horse without inconvenience or lameness: he may have defects, both as regards form and action: but such are not to be construed into unsoundness. It is a remarkable fact that very few cribbers fail to perform the duties required of them. They may, once in a while, have an attack of colic; but
* ” Although the abnormal action with horses known under the appellation of crib biting is so frequently observed, it is still one far from being sufficiently understood. Many of our best veterinary authors have furnished dissertations on the subject; but these present great variety of opinion touching the causes, scat, nature, and consequences of crib biting. Whilst one contends that, in the act, thehorse swallows atmospheric nir, another contends that the nniiual ejects air, which act is accompanied with a particular noise, created by gas generated in the stomach. Some say that the habit is injurious to the h T*ps that practise it, and that it frequently renders thorn valueless ; whilo others maintain that it nowise materially hurts them. The Court (of Appeal) has pronounced in favor of its iunocuousncss.
” By this we are led to distinguish crib bitina into that which is acquired by habit, habitual, and that which is properly so called, and which is spontaneous.
” The opinion which regards crib biting as discharging air from the stomach.
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