158 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



stomachs become distended,'- as if the animals did all 

 they could to take in the largest possible quantity of 

 this bulky food, because of the diffused state in which 

 its nutritive matter exists in it. It is therefore evi- 

 dent that the bulky character of strata prevents the 

 fattening properties tvJiich it contaivs being taken 

 advantage of, token it forms the 07ily food of the 

 animnl ; and hence it is considered by many to be of 

 very low value as food. 



The supply of nourishment is not the only considera- 

 tion which regulates the progress of the animal ; for it 

 is quite possible to give this to the beast in a highly 

 concentrated form, and yet for want of sufficient bulk 

 it will not benefit the animal consuming it. If we gave 

 a bullock or sheep just as mucli oilcake or corn as 

 would be equal to the nutriment contained in that 

 quantity of straw which is sufficient for the support of 

 the animal, we should find it pine away, not from a 

 deficiency of nutriment, but because it has been sup- 

 plied in a form which prevents him making a pro- 

 per use of it. The bulk of the food must be pro- 

 portioned to the capacity of the stomach. In order 

 that digestion may be properly carried out, the 

 stomach must be sufficiently filled, to excite the 

 coats of this receptacle to throw out the gastric juice, 

 which is the chief digestive agent. In the horse the 

 stomacli is small, and hence a stronger and more con- 

 centrated description of food may be employed ; but 

 with sheep and cattle the stomachs are considerably 

 larger, and this must be met by the use of a more bulky 

 class of food. The special requirements of the animal 

 system must be complied with, and it is when these 

 conditions are combined that food acts beneficially. 



The use of straw as food, whilst valuable on account 

 of its bulky nature and the nutritious elements 

 which it contains, can only be eeonomically employed 



in conjunction with other food of a more concentrated 

 character. In this way its bulk becomes useful, and 

 the nutriment supplied fully available for the support 

 and development of the animal. We find that those 

 who attach a high value to straw employ it in this 

 manner. Alderman Mechi, who has been amongst the 

 foremost in claiming for straw a much higher value 

 than other practical men generally allow, has stated 

 the manner in which he has gained results proving the 

 nutritive value of straw to be £2 per ton. The instance 

 especially named by him is that of 10 bullocks, which 

 daily received 



216 gallons of cut wheat-straw, 



6 ,, rape cake, 



3 „ malt combs, 



5 ,, bran, 

 20 ,, hot water, 

 300 pounds of mangel-wurzel. 

 In this mixture we find the nutritious powers of the 

 cake, malt combs, and bran diffused throughout a large 

 bulk of food in the proportion of 35 to 1, and thus all 

 the advantage of bulk is gained, combined with the 

 supply of nutriment. The general estimation of straw 

 (apart from any consideration of the influence of soil, 

 climate, and ripeness) will be found to vary according 

 to the degree in which its bulky character is taken ad- 

 vantage of, for the distribution of more concentrated 

 food amongst it. The feeder who keeps his stock upon 

 straw alone, estimates its value lower than anyone else ; 

 he who gives roots in conjunction witla straw thinks 

 better of it ; but he who uses it with stronger and more 

 concentrated material will realize the best results, and 

 estimate it at the highest rate. It still remains for us 

 to show to what extent these remarks must be qualified, 

 in consequence of the varying circumstances by which 

 they may be influenced. 



THE VETERINARIAN AND HIS VALUE. 



It is satisfactory to see that veterinary science is 

 still progressing. Our own Royal College in London 

 flourishes. There are now two such Institutions in 

 Edinburgh, and a hearty endeavour is being made to 

 establish a similar Society in Dublin. With the open- 

 ing of the new year we have the development of fresh 

 energy, and a certain promise for the future, well 

 grounded on the experience of the past. This is every- 

 where observable. The Veterinary Art is taking higher 

 ground. It was only during last autumn that we had 

 to dwell upon the fact as demonstrated in the in- 

 augural address of Professor Spooner. This is further 

 coiToborated by the opening paper in the January 

 numhev oi ih& Edinburgh Veterinary Review ; where 

 Professor Gamgee, engaged in the performance of a 

 like duty, is yet more anxious to impress upon his 

 pupils the necessity of maintaining their fitting posi- 

 tion in society. The very title given to the address, 

 " The Relations of Veterinary to Social Science," turns 

 the mind at once to the point. It will be only 

 the unthinking that will henceforth speak of " the 

 horse doctor " with anything of that contempt once so 

 common. Our own immediate health and welfare will 

 teach us to regard him with increasing respect ; for 

 veterinary science stands not merely second to the 

 study of medicine " proper," but the two kindred arts 

 have often a direct bearing one on the other. Mr. 

 Gamgee is able and eloquent in his argument, but he 

 especially enforces this by example. We all know the 

 frightful consequences that occasionally arise by ino- 

 culation from a glandered horse; but the Professor 

 proceeds to some further illustration of the same dan- 



ger of contagion between man and beast not so well 

 known, and that may be profitably reproduced here : — 

 "Tliat there are many unsuspected sources of disease 

 in man, from the prevalence of disease in animals, is 

 often suggested, but positive facts are with difficulty 

 obtained. I must illustrate my meaning. In different 

 parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, cattle are 

 subject to anthrax, commonly known as quarter-evil, 

 or by the more ludicrous epithet ' black leg.' We have 

 to thank our northern latitude for the rare develop- 

 ment, in these cases, of the virulent anthrax poison, 

 which destroys many human beings in warm climates. 

 So destructive is this poison, that flies resting on the 

 carcases of animals that have died of this disease, or 

 even on the parts affected in the living animal, may 

 fly on to a man's face or hand, induce malignant pus- 

 tule, and death in a short time. Though such accidents 

 are doubtless extremely rare amongst us, we must not 

 take it for granted that they do not occur. Dr. Keith 

 of Aberdeen related a case to me where disease and 

 death spread through the family of a man who dressed a 

 carcase of an ox that had died of quarter-ill ; and had we 

 better means of collecting information on these sub- 

 jects, many similar instances would doubtless come to 

 our knowledge." 



Such cautions cannot be too widely disseminated, 

 while the agricultural population would seem, of all 

 others, to be the most open to any such evil in- 

 fluence. As, for another example ; "A cutaneous 

 disease of very common occurrence in cattle, and 

 which generally receives the name of ringworm, 

 is a pustular eruption communicable to man ; and I 



