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.
FOUNDER, OR FEVER IN THE FEET.--An inflammation of the parts between the crust of the foot and the pedal-bone, including the _laminæ_, which cease to secrete horn. It is caused sometimes by hard roads, and sometimes by eating or drinking or standing in a draught of air when heated. This name is commonly applied to any rheumatic lameness of the fore-feet or legs brought on as above, whether its seat be the feet, the tendons of the legs, or the muscles of the breast, in which last case it is called "chest-founder." The treatment, which is only palliative, is hot bathing and friction with liniments.