178 The 'Book of the Coat. 



be the staple food, with grass and the articles mentioned 

 above, or some of them, supplied occasionally for a 

 change. In introducing any new food, if disliked at 

 first it should be mixed in gradually increasing quantities 

 with something that is relished. Linseed cake, for in- 

 stance, should be broken up very small, and put in with 

 the oats and bran ; pulped roots also may be mixed with 

 bran or dusted over with meal. The quantity given 

 cannot be specified, as so much depends on the individual 

 appetite, but more food should ' never be placed before 

 the animals than they are likely to consume. 



After the age above mentioned, should the season be 

 spring or summer, more grass may be allowed and less 

 corn given. Green food causes the stomach to enlarge and 

 develops the digestive organs ; but it must not be supplied 

 too abundantly in early spring, nor too suddenly at any 

 time, for fear of causing relaxation of the bowels. 



SVounr in 



Kids are always more or less apt to be attacked by 

 scours, more especially if too much food is given at a 

 time. This may be stopped (though it should not be done 

 too suddenly) by administering a draught, the recipe for 

 which is given under Diarrhoea in the chapter on Diseases. 

 The excretion, therefore, should be carefully watched. 

 On the first sign of looseness give a mess of baked flour 

 boiled up with milk or milk and water, not too much at 

 once, two or three times a day. Those who have no 

 nurseries may be told that this is made by putting dry 

 flour in an earthen jar in the oven, and shaking it oc- 

 casionally till it is a deepish whity-brown. Rice milk is 

 also good, or, for severer cases, bean-meal gruel. All 

 should be given cold. If the diarrhoea has been severe, 

 so that the little creature has moped, drooped, and 

 dwindled, further danger will arise when the return of 



