LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 189 



nutrition, calls for a variety which alone is sure to afford the desired nutri- 

 ment. If unwholesome, innutritions food is made to tempt the appetite, its 

 evil effects upon the tissues, if these are in health, will soon check the desire 

 for this food. In the case of our own food then, I think no better rule can 

 be given than for us to consult appetite, and furthermore that we reject all 

 food that in any way interferes with the perfect action of the vital processes, 

 as indicated by any discomfort that we may feel after eating it. I drink a 

 cup of coffee each day. It is nutritious, I enjoy it, and feel well after taking 

 it. If I drink two cups, I can not say as much. I feel dull, my digestion 

 seems impaired, and my flagging appetite indicates the harmful practice. It 

 is wise and safe for me to drink one cup of coffee; it would be sinful for me 

 to drink two. It is even more difficult to mark out a perfect food regimen for 

 our lower animals. True, we should see to it that their appetites are con- 

 sulted ; and never place food before them which they nose over, and daintily 

 munch, as if every fiber of their organism became tense with indignation at 

 such unappetizing food. A variety of food is only better relished by our cat- 

 tle and horses, as it better supplies the needed food elements. Economy as 

 well as the welfare of our stock demands that we pay more heed to this mat- 

 ter of the food regimen. We may feed much hay and little grain, and not 

 only stuff our horses so that they will become uncomfortable, and illy pre- 

 pared for hard physical labor, but we will find the diet very expensive. By 

 feeding more concentrated food, and instead of hay letting straw take in part 

 at least its place, we contribute to economy, and at the same time to the welfare 

 of our faithful servants. From what has already been said, we see that it 

 is wise to feed some hay at intervals, and replace this ever and anon with 

 corn-stalks, and roots. In feeding grain, for the same reason it is well to 

 mix the more concentrated with the less, as corn-meal and bran, or bran and 

 oil-cake. 



In discussing this subject, we must not omit the importance of water as a 

 food element. Chemical analysis of the organs shows most graphically the 

 importance of water as a constituent of the tissues. Even the teeth are one- 

 tenth water, while some of the animal Juices are more than ninety-nine one- 

 Imndredths water. We all know how faint and languid we become, if 

 deprived of water. The tissues at such times are famished and can only voice 

 their needs through thirst. It is not only humane, but it is wise economy to 

 give our horses and cattle water as often as they desire it. Some people consult 

 ease and give their stock water but once a day ; others, even more provident of 

 their strength and energy, withhold even this. Sheep, especially, are often 

 left unwatered for weeks in the hottest days of summer, all, forsooth because 

 they seem to do fairly well without water. I can't believe that this is 

 economy, and am even jnore sitre that it is cruelty. Now that the patent on 

 drive wells is declared invalid, we may so arrange our fields that a single wind- 

 mill will bring this cheap and most grateful of all food to all our animals. 

 The health, the comfort, and the vigor of our stock makes it desirable that 

 they should never know thirst, summer or winter. 



We next have to consider digestion. Our rations may be ample, our food 

 regimen perfect, and yet if digestion is faulty we may still starve. All of 

 our food, except water and the inorganic salts, must be liquified before it can 

 pass to the blood. This conversion into the requisite fluids is termed digestion. 

 It is found that the food elements, the albuminoids, the fats, and the carbo- 

 hydrates can be as perfectly digested in a glass tube as in the body, if the 

 proper digestive fluids are mixed with them, and the proper conditions main- 



