WATERING AND FEEDING. 33 



to stand in the stable until wanted again, in order to take off the chill, is 

 objectionable, because the water so exposed must imbibe some of the de- 

 leterious gases present in most stables, and therefore must become 

 tainted. 



Hard water, which contains an excess of saline and mineral substances, 

 does not as a general rule agree as well with horses as soft water, such as 

 that obtained from a river or pond. It is apt to produce irritation of the 

 bowels and, as a secondary effect, a staring coat. 



The salts contained in hard water may be in a great degree precipi- 

 tated by boiling, and most waters become softer by being exposed to the 

 air. 



Any sudden change in the kind of water supplied to horses is apt to 

 cause derangement and even irritation of the mucous membranes of the 

 bowels, especially a change from soft to hard water. Hence if the water 

 is very hard, it should be boiled before being given to valuable horses, 

 particularly if they are not accustomed to it. 



Rain or other soft water stored in tanks soon becomes full of decom- 

 posing vegetable matter in hot weather. 



65. Scouring. 



To horses predisposed to scour, water should be given frequently and 

 in reduced quantities, and in winter the chill should be taken off by 

 mixing it with a very little warm water. Perhaps the best plan is to 

 leave water always before such horses, because when so supplied they 

 drink less than when watered at intervals. A diminished quantity of 

 water taken into the system by lessening the secretions of the intestines 

 decreases the tendency to purgation. 



If reduction of the quantity of water does not produce the desired 

 effect, it may be mixed with a little wheaten meal, which has a slight 

 astringent effect on the bowels. If further measures are needed, boiled 

 linseed or some such demulcent should be mixed with the oats ; and it is 

 as well to bruise the oats, because their ends are liable to cause irrita- 

 tion on an over-sensitive intestinal lining. Horses disposed to scour 

 should be stinted of their water before going to work. Some horses will 

 scour unless a little hay is given to them in the morning before they are 

 watered. 



Not infrequently, however, the real cause of scouring will be found in 

 an irritable state of the bowels induced by the presence of various 

 crudities arising from imperfect digestion or previous torpidity. In such 

 cases, if the animal is strong and hearty and not usually predisposed to 

 the complaint, a mild dose of purgative medicine may be beneficially 

 administered, followed by tonics. 



Scouring, especially where a tendency to it exists, may readily be 

 brought on by any sort of neglect or bad management, such as by wash- 

 ing the legs and not drying them, by letting the animal stand sweating 

 after exercise without being dried and cleaned, by copious draughts of 

 cold water when the body is heated, or by being watered immediately 

 before fast work. Light-coloured horses, especially if also long in the 



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