ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 



241 



The pertinacity of the cribbing habit was demonstrated 



by Mr. A , of Des Plaines, 111., in the case of a large 



Shetland pony that acquired the habit at the age of three 

 years. This pony was confined in a polished hardwood cage 

 with the walls inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees from 

 above downwards and outwards, for three years, during 

 which time special care was taken to prevent any contact 

 with objects that could be touched with the teeth. At the 

 end of three years it was experimentally placed into a stall 

 with a manger. In less than ten seconds the cribbing begun 

 and continued until returned to the hardwood cage. 



HABITUAL PTYALISM. 



Synonym — Slobbering. 



Definition — A habit of carriage horses characterized by 

 an excessive flow of saliva from the mouth while driving. 



Etiology — Habitual ptyalism of carriage horses is caused 

 by the abnormal curbing of the neck in horses inclined to 

 "pull" heavily upon the reins. The position of the head as- 

 sumed under such circumstances prevents the free degluti- 

 tion of the saliva secreted, which in the "pulHng horse" is 

 always excessive. Besides, the mind of the "pulling" car- 

 riage horse is so occupied with the bit that no deglutition 

 is attempted. 



Ptyalism is also caused by sensitiveness of the mouth, 

 wounds, bit gnathitis, and other forms of stomatitis, but 

 these causes constitute an entirely different entity than that 

 referred to in this paragraph. 



Symptoms — An excessive flow of saliva while driving in 

 the absence of any lesion of the mouth determines a case of 

 habitual ptyalism. The secretion is churned into a stringy 

 froth, and is blown' by the wind over the harness, horse, car- 

 riage and even the coachman. There is also a tendency to- 

 wards "champing" the bit when the reins are relaxed. 



