THE FEEDING OF FARM STOl K. 781 



of large quantities of tibrous 'matter, such as the running stems of the paddy- 

 melon (Gucwmia myriocarpus) —all I hese are liable to cause colic in strong, well- 

 conditioned horses, and there are also other causes likely to operate in animals 

 debilitated through a continuous low ration or temporarily exhausted from 

 excessive strain. The administration of even an ordinary grain food will at 

 times cause trouble in these rases, and the giving of an extra large feed to a 

 tired or exhausted animal may lead to serious results. 



I it cases of debility the tone of the digestive organs is so low that large 

 quantities of concentrated food cannot be dealt with, and indigestion and 

 colic result. Debilitated animals ace also peculiarly prone to flatulent colic 



if food of a highly succulent and fermentative nature is given. Weak and 

 exhausted animals should, above all others, receive small feeds at com- 

 paratively short intervals. They should also he worked with care, as it is in 

 animals in that condition that colic is especially apt to be associated with 

 watering. On the other hand, the danger of giving water to a warm horse 

 has been much overestimated. 



In many cases where improper feeding may not lead to attacks of colic it 

 will induce a more or less serious indigestion — at times acute, and at others 

 •chronic — which is shown in a failure on the part of the animal properly to 

 digest his food, and a consequent unthriftiness. In such cases the first step 

 should be to investigate the methods and materials used in feeding and to 

 • correct any errors noted. This should always be done before resort is made 

 to medicine, which will in many cases be then found unnecessary. 



Azoluria. — The ill effects of maintaining a resting horse on the same high 

 ration on which he has recently been working are seen in those cases of 

 azoturia which occur frequently in cities and which seem to be due to the 

 overloading of the resting system with a rich diet, and the sudden 

 ■disturbance of metabolism involved in the change from work to leisure. 

 An appropriate reduction of the diet and the provision of a laxative food 

 such as a bran mash on the day before a holiday, will to a fair extent 

 prevent such cases. 



Forage Poisoning. — Mortality from this cause is nearly always associated 

 with a supply of mouldy or dirty food, and can be largely prevented by 

 assuring that such material is not used. 



Laminitit. — Overgorging with wheat is often followed by this disease, 

 but it is not likely to occur if the wheat is properly fed and the horses are 

 not put on to it too suddenly. 



Lymphangitis. — A complaint frequently seen in horses kept on full feed 

 during rest days immediately following days of hard work. Under such 

 circumstances the richness of the diet should be lowered before the re^t. 



CATTLE. 



Owing to the natural conditions under which the majority of cattle are kept 

 in this country, the diseases associated with feeding are intimately connected 

 with seasonal variations, such as the frequent dry periods and the almost, 

 equally frequent, though much shorter, periods of heavy rain and floods, with 

 the consequent rapid growth of succulent green herbage and grass. Forms 

 of disease in which food deficiency, in some form or other, and sudden changes 

 from dry to green feed, play an important part, are very prevalent. Thi- i- 



