340 Food. 



seemSj moreover, to agree in opinion with me, as to the superior 

 efficacy of cooked, in comparison of raw potatoes. Speaking of their 

 effects which he had observed upon horned cattle, he says — '' For these, 

 tlie food, viz. raw potatoes andstraw were weighed, no water was given. 



Again — steamed potatoes and dry straw were weighed, — no water 

 was given. In both cases the cattle fattened well, and speedily, to 

 the same point of value and size. But here, in confirmation of 

 your opinion, I state it as a fact, which every experimental feeder 

 should submit to a severe trial, that o«e half of the quantity of pota- 

 toes steamed, produced the same value in money, in the same time^ 

 m the whole quantity did when given raw." 



Mr. Curwen lays great stress upon mixing the cut straw along with the 

 potatoes, being of opinion that the former prevents the too rapid diges- 

 tion of the latter. Now, though I suspect this opinion of Mr. Curwen's 

 not to be quite correct, embraces nevertheless, a point of the utmost 

 consequence in the argument. For, if cooked potatoes can be said to be 

 defective in any respect, as food for Horses which labour hard, it is 

 on account of their being too easily and too rapidly digested; and 

 although assimilation generally keeps pace with the digestive process, 

 yet it is a well known fact, that languor soon ensues after great mus- 

 cular exertion, when the stomach is empty. Whether, therefore, 

 we admit, that cut straw retkrds the digestion of the potatoes or 

 not, by being mixed with them, yet, as it certainly will continue in 

 the stomach much longer than the latter, so the consequences attend- 

 ant upon this organ, being long in a state of inanition, will, at any rate, 

 be avoided, by this mode of feeding. Mr. Curwen's caution^ 

 however, not to work Horses that are fed on cooked potatoes, too soon 

 after a feed, is well worthy of attention ; for the small space of time 



