Page:Horsemanship for Women.djvu/165

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BUYING A SADDLE-HORSE.
151

dish and very sensitive spot in the sole of the foot under the shoe, caused by a rupture of the delicate blood-vessels, resulting in an abnormal fungoid growth.

Costiveness.—May bring on "blind staggers" in a horse inclined to this disease. No horse should be hurried when first taken out till his bowels have been moved.

Cough.—Constitutes unsoundness while it lasts. Caused by foul air, dusty food, irregular work. Crush the oats, damp the hay, and give linseed tea for drink.

Cribbing, or Crib-biting.—Is sometimes considered a vice, but is doubtless a result of indigestion. The horse lays hold of the manger with his teeth, straightens his neck, sucks wind into his stomach, and ejects gas. Probably some alkali, say lime-water or baking soda, would be beneficial.

Curb.—A soft, painful swelling on the back of the hind-leg six or eight inches below the hock. See illustration.

Cutting.—See "Interfering" and "Speedy Cut."

Discharge from Nostril.—Is usually caused by a simple cold, but may be a symptom of the contagious and incurable disease glanders, and proximity to it should therefore be carefully avoided.

Distemper.—A disease of young horses, occurring once only. See "Strangles."

Ewe Neck.—Carries the head high and nearly in a horizontal position, so that the bit has not a proper bearing on the "bars," but is inclined to slip back towards the grinders.

Farcy.—An incurable and contagious disease, caused by blood-poisoning, and indicated by sores usually on inside of thigh, or on neck and hips. As it is communicable to human beings, every farcied horse should be immediately killed. It is well to avoid all approach to horses having sores of any kind. See "Glanders."

Filled Legs.—A swelled condition of the lower parts, usually caused by want of exercise, and relieved by bandaging and rubbing.

Fistula of the Withers.—An abscess among the muscles over the shoulder-blades, usually caused by pressure of saddle upon the bony ridge of back. Requires surgical operation.