292 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



from flatulence, and the other from impaction — both, however, 

 are spasmodic in their nature, and modifications of the same 

 causes produces both. If there be one class of diseases to which 

 the farm-horse is subject, and productive of greater loss than 

 another, it is that which results from the unscientific and un- 

 natural system of feeding which is practised in various localities, 

 added to which the resulting Colic suffers maltreatment by as 

 many draughts whose names are legion, until the animal is 

 either literally poisoned, or rupture of the stomach or intestimes 

 takes place, which speedily seals his fate. 



A glance at the Anatomy and Physiology of the various 

 organs, &c, which minister to the process of digestion in the 

 horse, will at once convince the attentive observer that every 

 provision to ensure complete performance of the act of prepara- 

 tion, has been brought into requisition. Incisor or molar teeth 

 to collect and grind down the natural food — grain and leguminous 

 seeds. Saliva, pharyngeal, and other secretions, all of vital uses 

 in the process and system at large, accompany it to the stomach, 

 where it meets with a further solvent, the gastric juice. Next 

 comes the biliary, pancreatic and intestinal secretions, any of 

 which being impaired or absent constitutes disorder, if not actual 

 disease. Yet we. attempt to set aside nature's laws, as if they 

 were useless, by substituting cooked food, with other artificial 

 and unnatural mixtures. It may be safely admitted that nature 

 has not rendered any portion of her work either superfluous or 

 useless. Teeth, glands, and secretions, are special provisions 

 for special purposes, which all the cooked food cannot supersede 

 without bringing about those conditions which are either actual 

 disease, conditions bordering upon, or directly leading to it. 

 Every judge of horse-flesh avoids the animal with long legs, 

 slack loins and herring carcass, as being washy in constitution, 

 bad feeders, and prone to colic. But scarcely any one who pre- 

 tends to the same amount of horse casuistry can be caused to see 

 the difference between such a state as a result of natural confor- 

 mation and the condition brought about by giving continued 

 supplies of sloppy and indiscribable messes under the mistaken 

 term of nutritious food. In a word, the horse is not made for 

 such, and hence the preponderance of deaths where cooked food 

 is exclusively used. 



The continued presence of food of too fluid a nature induces 

 spasm, by subverting or impairing the secretions of the organs 

 of digestion. A certain amount of bulk is essential, which if 

 not present, the results are as stated. Fluids also pass rapidly, 

 and are liable when in too large quantities to cause irritation, 

 thereby increasing the action of the bowels, causing much to pass 

 away undigested, and involving a greater consumption of food. 



