DISEASES OF THE TEETH AND MOUTH. 278 



and is suffering tortures from sore teeth and gums, if a small 

 chip or piece of stick be held between the teeth and they 

 be closed forcibly upon it, the abatement of pain will be in- 

 stantaneous and great. May not the stump-sucking horse 

 be merely resorting to the same expedient to secure tempo- 

 rary relief from suffering of a similar character ? It is not 

 difficult to understand how grateful such relief would be to 

 an animal in that state, nor how pleasureable a sensation it 

 might be to cool the hot and feverish gums by drawing the 

 air rapidly through the teeth. 



We strongly incline to the belief that the affection is a 

 disease not only of the teeth and gums, but also embracing 

 the membrane (the periosteum) covering the fangs of the 

 former, and of the nerves of the adjacent regions. 



One fact in the symptoms is very prominent : the horse 

 evidently suffers during the paroxysms, and, as before stated, 

 is sometimes even convulsed by spasms. Another is that he 

 generally loses flesh and strength, becomes low in condition, 

 and can not be made to thrive. 



TREATMENT. 



This should be directed to the teeth and gums. Try the 

 effects of wetting the front teeth with the magic nerve lini- 

 ment, morning and night, for at least ten days. Apply the 

 liniment with a small mop to the top of the teeth, and 

 enough will run down upon the surrounding gums. If the 

 horse is inclined to plethora, bleed once, taking about three 

 quarts of blood. In mild cases, this treatment will often 

 prove of marked benefit. 



A confirmed stump or wind sucker is undoubtedly impaired 

 for usefulness in nearly all cases, and his market value ma- 

 terially diminished. We have treated the subject at this- 

 length in the hope that the suggestions here thrown out 

 may be the means of eliciting the true facts in relation to 

 the nature and causes of this singular affection. 

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