FOODS AND FEEDING. I03 



Lathyrus Sativus. 



Is a small, somewhat three-cornered mottled grey pea, which is Appear- 

 imported into this country under the generic term, " Indian peas." It ance. 

 grows abundantly in many districts of India and is commonly found in 

 inferior samples of gram ; when consumed in small quantities both by Poisonous 

 men and horses it does not appear to exert any ill effects, but when effects, 

 partaken of freely it induces a form of paralysis, which, in the horse, 

 is accompanied by symptoms of severe roaring. 



Various other Foods. 



Potatoes are utilised for horses in Ireland and parts of England. Potatoes. 

 They should be cooked before use, as they are indigestible raw. Turnips 

 and other roots are sometimes fed as a mash, after boiling and mixing 

 with the rest of the feed. 



Meat was utilised successfully during the siege of Metz by being cut Meat, 

 into small pieces and rolled in bran, and Norwegian stock of all kinds is 

 accustomed to consume a soup made from boiled fish when mixed with 

 other food. 



Sugar has long been known as a palatable article of food for horses. Sugar, 

 but has not been much used in England till recently, when, under the 

 name of " Molassine," a combination of sugar refuse and peat moss has 

 appeared on the market. 



Raw sugar cannot be given in large quantities without disturbing the 

 digestion, but as sugar cane, treacle, or crystal sugar it can be added to 

 the food in sufficient amount. 



Sugar as a food is said to be both sustaining and fattening, and 

 especially useful during exposure to cold and hardship ; as an addition to 

 otherwise insufficient rations, it may be of use under these conditions. 



Gruel and Similar Preparations. 



Gruel is made either by pouring boiling water on oatmeal and letting Oatmeal 

 it cool, or by simply stirring up a couple of handfuls of oatmeal in a bucket gruel, 

 of cold or chilled water. In either case it should not contain sufficient 

 oatmeal to make it at all thick, and both are readily swallowed and 

 enjoyed. In England oatmeal gruel is very constantly given to horses 

 after long, tiring work as a refresher on the way home, and is an excellent 

 method of sustaining them. Similar preparations may be made from Various 

 other grains {e.g., maize meal or bean meal), and are all useful on gruels. 



