ioo SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



of the digested substances into the blood and 

 lymph are hindered. The final nitrogenous pro- 

 ducts of metabolism are also not excreted suffi- 

 ciently rapidly, and are retained in the body. 

 Where there is a continued lack of water, the 

 blood gradually thickens and the temperature of 

 the body rises. In this condition, which is similar 

 to that of fever, the protein and fat metabolism 

 increases, and continues to exist until by ingestion 

 of water the normal quantity found in the body 

 is again reached. Young, growing animals can 

 easily be injured in their development by even a 

 moderate lack of water, or by irregular watering. 

 If the supply of fluids continues to be insufficient 

 for an animal, then with increasing thirst the desire 

 for solid food decreases, and is usually followed by 

 vomiting and violent purging, the latter symptom 

 often being observed when water is given after 

 long periods of thirst. Complete withdrawal of 

 food is, for the reasons given above, better with- 

 stood than is complete withdrawal of water. 



There is little fear of animals receiving too much 

 water unless they are given excessive quantities of 

 watery foods, or, through the consumption of salt, 

 are forced to drink too much. In ordinary feeding 

 practice, where animals are allowed to drink as 

 much water as they wish, the quantity relative to 

 the dry matter consumed is fairly constant. It has 

 been found that for i kilo of dry matter in the food 



