MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 67 



198. Rice. — Unhusked rice, after the horses become accustomed 

 to it, is a useful grain, and as much as 14 pounds may be fed daily. 

 Only unhusked or unthrashed rice should be used. 



199. Linseed meal (flaxseed meal, oil m.eal). — An excellent 

 food for horses that have become run down in condition. It has a 

 slightly laxative action, j)roduces an oily skin and a sleek glossy 

 coat, and may be given with other feed in quantities of from ^ to 1 

 pound daily. 



200. Bran. — Bran is an excellent food for the horse. Fed once 

 or twice a week in the form of a mash it proves a mild, beneficial 

 laxative. WTien used continuously, the animal system becomes 

 accustomed to it and the laxative property is less marked. Dry 

 bran in small quantities is said to have a constipating effect. 



201. Characteristics of bran. — Bran should be light in weight, 

 dry, sweet, flaky, free from lumpa and dirt, and sweet to the taste. 



202. Bran mashes. — A bran mash is made by pouring boiling 

 water on 2 or 3 pounds of bran in a bucket. A tablespoonful of salt 

 may be added, and the whole covered up and set aside until suffi- 

 ciently cool. 



Indications of Disease. 



203. Loss of appetite. — Loss of appetite is usually one of the 

 first indications of disease. It may, however, be due to overeating, 

 excitement, or fatigue. 



204. The pulse in disease. — Any deviation from the normal, 

 Btrong, full, and regular pulse indicates an abnormal condition. 



A rapid, full, bounding pulse is found in the first stages of fever. 



A weak, small, and rapid pulse occurs in the later stages of fever 

 and is an indication of great weakness. 



A quick, feeble, fluttering pulse indicates the approach of death. 



An abnormally slow pulse denotes disease or injury to the brain 

 or spinal cord. 



205. Breathing in disease. — Difiicult or rapid breathing in 

 animals at rest is a prominent symptom of disease of the respiratory 

 organs; it may also be observed in some cases of flatulent colic. 



206. Temperature in disease. — In fever or in diseases of an 

 inflammatory nature the temperature of the body rises above the 

 normal standard ._ In contagious diseases a rise of temperature often 

 precedes any visible symptoms, a fact which is of great importance 

 in detecting and weeding out suspected aniixials. 



