BRAIN — BRAN 



projecting bolts or latches about it. The door should be 

 provided with two fastenings, one about 2 feet and the 

 other about 5 feet from the ground. A box, too, should 

 be light, well ventilated, and, if straw is used as a bedding, 

 properly drained. (See Drains, Stables, Ventilation^ 



Brain. — It would be impossible within the limits of 

 space available for the purpose to enter into an exhaustive 

 description of the horse's brain, but an allusion may be 

 made to its functions and formation. Briefly, it may be 

 mentioned that the two main parts — namely, the cerebrum, 

 which is the organ of thought, and the cerebellum, which 

 directs the muscular movements — are connected with the 

 spinal cord by a third, called the medulla oblongata, which 

 is a most important organ inasmuch as it controls the 

 breathing and, consequently, the life of the animal. The 

 cerebellum is situated at the top of the head, and the 

 cerebrum below it, behind the forehead, and hence a blow 

 behind the ears is liable to affect the power of the horse 

 to move. The weight of the brain is about \\ lbs., the 

 cerebrum being seven times heavier than the cerebellum ; 

 and it may be added that the size of a horse's brain in com- 

 parison to that of the body compares unfavourably with 

 those of the dog, cat, ass, and pig, though it is superior to 

 that of horned stock. (See histinct, Intelligence, Memory^ 



Brake. — A four-wheeled open vehicle, constructed to carry 

 a considerable number of people sitting face to face. In 

 addition to the box-seat some brakes carry a second row 

 of passengers behind the driver, (See Carriages, Char-a- 

 Ba?ic.) 



Bran, although not very nutritious, is largely used as 

 an addition to the grain and chaff allowance of horses in 

 order to prevent the animals from bolting their food. If 

 given in the form of a mash it is a gentle laxative, and may 

 be substituted for the last feed the night before a horse gets 



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