304 SCIEN^CE OF AGRICULTURE. Part I L 



well being ; and a somewhat increased degree in the cold months, or diminished 

 degree in such as are oppressively warm, is advantageous in the fattening process. 

 Where a sufficient degree of warmth to promote the ordinary circulation of the 

 blood is not produced by the natural climate, or by exercise, it must be supplied 

 by an artificial climate. Houses and sheds are the obvious resources both for this 

 purpose, and for protection from extremes of weather. Cold rains and northerly 

 winds are highly injurious, by depriving the external surface of the body of caloric 

 more rapidly than it can be supplied from within by respiration, and the action 

 of the stomach ; and also by contracting the pores of the skin, so as to impede cir- 

 culation. When an animal happens to shed its covering, whether of hair, wool, or 

 feathers, at such inclement seasons, the effects on its general health are highly injurious. 

 The excessive heats of summer, by expanding all the parts of the animal frame, occa- 

 sions a degree of lassitude, and want of energy even in the stomach and intestines ; and 

 while the animal eats and digests less food than usual, a greater waste than usual takes 

 place by perspiration. Nature has provided trees, rocks, caverns, hills and waters, to 

 moderate these extremes of heat and weather, and man imitates them by hovels, sheds, 

 and other buildings, according to particular circumstances. 



2030. Good air and water it may seem unnecessary to insist on ; but cattle and horses, 

 and even poultry pent up in close buildings, where there are no facilities for a change of 

 the atmosphere, often suffer on this account. A slight degree of fever is produced at 

 first, and after a time, when the habit of the animal becomes reconciled to such a state, 

 a retarded circulation, and general decay or diminution of the vital energies takes place. 



2031. Water ought to fje soft and pure, as being a better solvent than such as is hard and charged with 

 earthy particles. It ought to be of a moderate temperature, under that of the open air in hot weather, 

 and exceeding it in winter. Deep wells afford this diflference. In particular cases, as in those animals in 

 a suckling state, or milked by man, warmed water has been found advantageous. Meals, or other light 

 rich matters, are sometimes mixed with it ; but it does not clearly appear, excepting in the last case, that 

 liquid food is so generally advantageous for fattening animals, as that which being equally rich is solid. 

 Some judgment is requisite as to the time most proper for giving water to animals. In general, it does 

 not appear necessary to supply it immediately after eating, for animals in a natural state, or pasturing in 

 a field, generally lie down after filling themselves, and after the process of digestion seems to have gone 

 on some time, they go in quest of water. Perhaps the immediate dilution of food, after being taken into 

 the stomach with water, may, at the same time, weaken the digestive powers, by diluting the gastric 

 juice. At all events the free use of water at any time, but especially during meals, is found to weaken 

 digestion in the human species. As animals of every kind become reconciled to any habit, not ultimately 

 injurious to health, perhaps for housed animals a stated quantity of water, given an hour, or an hour and 

 a half after what may be called their meals, may be the best mode. 



2032. Moderate exercise ought not to be dispensed with, where the flavor of animal 

 produce is any object; it is known to promote circulation, perspiration, and digestion, 

 and by consequence to invigorate the appetite. Care must be taken, however, not to 

 carry exercise to that point where it becomes a labor instead of a recreation. In some 

 cases, as in feeding swine and poultry, fatness is hastened by promoting sleep and pre- 

 venting motion, rather than encouraging it; but such animals cannot be considered 

 healthy fed ; in fact their fatness is most commonly the result of disease. 



2033. Tranquillity is an obvious requisite, for where the passions of brutes are called 

 into action, by whatever means, their influence on their bodies is often as great as in the 

 human species. Hence the use of castration, complete or partial separation, shading 

 from too much light, protection from insects, dogs, and other annoying animals, and 

 from the too frequent intrusion of man. 



2034. Cleanliness is favorable to health, by promoting perspiration and circulation. 

 Animals in a wild state attend to this part of their economy themselves ; but in pro- 

 portion as they are cultivated, or brought under the control of man, this becomes out 

 of their power ; and to ensure their subserviency to his wishes, man must supply by 

 art this as well as other parts of culture. Combing and brushing stall-fed cattle and 

 cows is known to contribute materially to health ; though washing sheep with a view to 

 cleaning the wool often has a contrary effect from the length of time the wool requires 

 to dry. This often brings on colds, and aggravates the liver complaint, so incident to 

 these animals. Bathing or steeping the feet of stalled animals occasionally in warm 

 water would no doubt contribute to their health ; bathing swine two or three times a 

 week in hot water, as in that used for boiling or steaming food, has been found a real 

 advantage. 



2035. Comfort. An animal may be well fed, lodged, and cleaned, without being 

 comfortable in every respect ; and in brutes, as well as men, want of comfort operates 

 on the digestive powers. If the surface of a stall in which an ox, or a horse stands, 

 deviates much from a level, he will be continually uneasy ; and he will be uneasy during 

 night, if its surface is rough, or if a proper bed of litter is not prepared every evening 

 for it to repose on. The form of racks and mangers is often less commodious than it 

 might be. A hay rack which projects forward is bad ; because the animal in drawing 

 out the hay is teased with the hay seeds falling in its eyes or ears; and this form, it may 

 be added, is apt to cause the breath of the animal to ascend through its food, which 



