658 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



when no farm work is done, and a superabundance of food is 

 given, tends to disorders and derangements of the functions. 



Over-work and fatigue on insufficient or improper food re- 

 sults in debility, an impoverished state of blood, and general 

 feebleness, which invite disease. There are many forms of 

 disease that come with such conditions. The contagious 

 foot-rot of sheep was unknown in France, Italy, and Ger- 

 many, before the introduction of merino sheep driven from 

 Spain. Now, as the disease was unknown in Spain, it was 

 concluded that the malady was produced by the fatigue incident 

 to the long journeys. Some most eminent veterinarians of 

 Russia have shown that the rinderpest or cattle plague breaks 

 out among the droves of cattle, which are driven great distances 

 and badly fed, and suffer for water, and with dust and heat on 

 the long journeys. Cattle which had left Russia or Hungary in 

 perfect health, were only attacked by the disease when they 

 had been a long time on the way or after arrival in Germany or 

 France. Such cattle not only developed the deadly malady in 

 their own systems, but communicated it to the German and 

 French animals which came in contact with them. These ex- 

 amples illustrate how readily disease and epidemics or epizootics 

 may be generated and spread. 



Now, as we have rapidly increasing herds all over the 

 country, and as farmers everywhere are interested in the rais- 

 ing of stock, this question of origin and prevention of endemic 

 diseases is of vital importance. 



Feeding. As to the nature and values of grains and fod- 

 ders, the reader will find much of profit in the chapters on this 

 subject. But when we find men do not know even how to feed 

 themselves to keep in good condition, it is evident the problem 

 of feeding animals has not been solved. We find the tempera- 

 ment and habits of the farmer have more to do with his suc- 

 cess as a handler of stock than his accurate knowledge of the 

 feeding values and constituents of food. 



The farmer who is nervous, excitable, and always in a rush 

 and splutter, never has horses in good condition. The animal 

 needs to be free from all excitement when feeding. It needs to 



