DISEASES OF THE TEETH AND MOUTH. 271 



still more so in eome European countries. In the Southern 

 States the practice has received the name of " stump-suck- 

 ing," from the fact that the stable-lots in which stock run a 

 great deal of their time are very often filled with old stumps 

 of trees, and upon these the horse exercises his singular pro- 

 pensity. The same strange actions are manifested in older 

 sections by gnawing the crib or manger, and hence the term 

 " crib-biting." Still a third name is given the habit in many 

 parts of the country, that of "wind-sucking," from a pecu- 

 liarity of some " stump-suckers," of violently dra^wing in air 

 through the teeth. 



The afi:ection, whatever it may really be, appears to come 

 on by " spells," or at particular times which have no regu- 

 lar or periodic recurrence. When the attack does come on, 

 however, the poor creature rushes up to the nearest object 

 that will serve his purpose — a stump, a rail, the crib, or the 

 manger — with such haste as though his very life depended 

 upon it, and, seizing it with his teeth, stands biting the wood, 

 or leans back and pulls with all the strength that the teeth 

 will bear. 



Wind-sucking is not so common an eccentricity, but when 

 it does occur is really distressing to witness. We are not 

 aware that it has ever been described by any writer upon 

 the diseases of the horse, but we have seen the operation a 

 immber of times, The horse looks around him for a mo- 

 ment, with a wild, hurried look, and then, with a sudden 

 start, lays hold of some hard substance, and grips it with his 

 teeth with all the power he possesses. Straightening his 

 neck and falling back upon his haunches, he hangs with his 

 teeth to the wood, and sucks in the air through his throat 

 with such force as to produce a loud, roaring noise, that may 

 sometimes be heard nearly one-fourth of a mile away. At. the 

 same time the most awful groans escape him, almost as 

 though "the very ribs of Nature were bursting in." At in- 

 tervals he holds his breath, until the spectator begins to fear 

 lest it should be gone forever. Then, with a slow, measured 

 groan, increasing to a roar, he recommences to suck the wind. 



