Food. 3\7 



corn in its unbruised state, by f^ivinf^ more emplo\nient (o the sali- 

 vary glands, and bein^ thereby more completely saturated with this 

 fluid, may be more speedily and perfectly digested. Now, though 

 it is impossible to disprove this opinion altogether, yet it ought to be 

 recollected at the same time, that it is equally impossible to prove it 

 to be well founded. The facts of analogy, indeed, are decidedly and 

 unequivocally against such a supposition ; for, in the instance of vo- 

 racious fish and the amphibia, no part of their prey has been found 

 materially altered in appearance, much less digested, except that portion 

 which occupied the stomach, all the remainder preserving its original 

 form and consistence. I think, therefore, there is good reason for 

 supposing that the chief purposes which the saliva serves, are to lu- 

 bricate the mouth and palate, and by this means to preserve the 

 exquisite sensibility of these parts, and to furnish sufficient moisture 

 during the act of masticating food that is dry, so as to fit the bolus 

 for being swallowed, without exciting any painful or irregular action 

 of the throat and gullet ; which would otherwise take place in the act 

 of swallowing hard substances. 



However, without dwelling too much upon these doubtful points, 

 the broad facts of the case would, one should think, be sufficient to 

 establish the policy of giving bruised oats to Horses; and these 

 facts are, from the concurrent testimony of all persons whom I 

 have made it my business to converse with, who have made trial of 

 this plan, whether scientific or practical men, precisely what I have 

 stated them to be. Some of these parties maintaining that a saving 

 of one third, and all agreeing thai not less than one fourth, of the 

 average allowance of corn may be effected, by means of an oat-brui- 

 ser. Sir Humphry Davy seems to be of opinion that the skin of the 



^ 41 



