THE SO-CALLED "INCAPACITATING VICES. 



287 



No sooner is the animal certain of being alone, than it commences to 

 tear off the hateful clothing. Large portions are seized between the 

 teeth, and these are rent off with an energy which borders upon mad- 

 ness. Nor is the mental fever, which actuates the horse, to be pacified, 

 so long as a vestige of the hated envelope remains to be removed. The 

 passion seems to be very engrossing while it exists; for, during the 

 period, anybody may enter the building, and even approach the irritated 

 quadruped, without his presence being observed. But, the feat being 

 ended, the creature looks around, seems to recover its recognitions, 

 nibbles different portions of its coat, licks the coolest parts of its manger, 

 being evidently thirsty, and ultimately lies down, apparently well satis- 

 fied with its recent performance. 



TEARING THE CLOTHINQ. 



The recognized remedy for such a condition does not regard the mor- 

 bid state out of which the destruction arises ; but it consists in placing 

 upon the back of the horse a garment which shall pain the lips, tongue, 

 palate and gums when it is grasped by the teeth. Cloths of such a 

 description are manufactured of coarse horse-hair, and are commonly 

 kept by most harness-makers, so general is their adoption. After such 

 a fashion, the biting impulse may be sometimes checked ; but there are 

 quadrupeds which seem to be goaded to still greater violence by the 

 device. Other animals, though the cloth of hair acts as a preventive, 

 become restless, and evidently pine under the remedy: their appetite 

 fails: their spirit vanishes, and their flesh wastes: nay, the author has 

 known the introduction of the favorite cure to be followed by an internal 

 and a fatal form of disease. 



