STOMACH OF THE HORSE 293 



feeds on a different plan. It is always on the move, 

 selecting and nipping the grass blades as it walks 

 along, and masticating the food before it swallows 

 it. Thus, the ox feeds while still and recumbent, 

 while the horse always eats while moving, and never 

 while recumbent. 



It is evident, therefore, that the horse ought to 

 be fed frequently, and not in very great quantities 

 at each meal. The groom, not being aware of this 

 fact, is too apt to cut oft the supply of food before 

 a journey, in order to make the horse ' travel light.' 

 Then, after the journey, wishing to be kind to the 

 horse, he gives it a double feed by way of reward. 



The natural consequence is, that the animal, 

 ravenous with hunger, eats too rapidly, overloads 

 its stomach, and suffers accordingly. Even human 

 beings, in spite of knowing better, will do the same 

 unless restrained by others, and we cannot expect a 

 horse to be wiser than a man. Cases are not un- 

 known where the coats of the stomach have given 

 way, and the horse has died in consequence of the 

 injury. 



Sometimes, especially in agricultural districts, a 

 peculiar disease is produced by overloading the 

 stomach, and generally makes its appearance on 

 Monday morning. 



Both the horse and the labourer who is in charge 



