102 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



one that produces more digestive disorders than any other, is to feed 

 too soon after a hard day's work. This must never be done. If a 

 horse is completely jaded, it will be found beneficial to give him an 

 alcoholic stimulant on going into the stable. A small quantity of 

 hay may then be given, but nis grain should be withheld for one or 

 two hours. These same remarks will apply with equal force to the 

 horse that for any reason has been fasting for a long time. After a 

 fast, feed less than the horse would eat ; for if allowed too much the 

 stomach becomes engorged, and colic is almost sure to follow. The 

 horse should be fed three or four times a day. It will not answer to 

 feed him entirely upon concentrated food. Bulky food must be 

 given to detain the grains in their passage through the intestinal 

 tract; bulk also favors distention, and thus mechanically aids ab- 

 sorption. For horses that do slow work for the greater part of the 

 time, chopped or cut hay fed with crushed oats, ground corn, etc., 

 is the best manner of feeding, as it gives the required bulk, saves 

 time, and half the labor of feeding. 



Sudden changes of diet are always dangerous. When desirous 

 of changing the food, do so very gradually. If a horse is accustomed 

 to oats, a sudden change to a full meal of corn will almost always 

 sicken him. If we merely intend to increase the quantity of the 

 usual feed, this also must be done gradually. The quantity of food 

 given must always be in proportion to the amount of labor to be per- 

 formed. If a horse is to do a small amount of work, or rest entirely 

 from work for a few days, see that he receives a proportionate 

 amount of feed. If this should be observed even on Saturday night 

 and Sunday, there would be fewer cases of "Monday morning sick- 

 ness," such as colics and lymphangitis. Foods should also be of a 

 more laxative nature when the horse is to stand for some days. 



Musty or Moldy Foods. Above all things, avoid feeding musty 

 or moldy foods. These are very frequent causes of disease of differ- 

 ent kinds. Lung trouble, such as bronchitis and heaves, often fol- 

 lows the use of such food. The digestive organs always suffer from 

 moldy or musty foods. Musty hay is generally considered to pro- 

 duce disorder of the kidneys. It has often been said to produce that 

 peculiar disease known variously as cerebro-spinal meningitis, putrid 

 sore throat, or choking distemper. 



PREPARATION OF FOODS. 



Foods are prepared for feeding for any of the following reasons : 

 To render the food more easily eaten ; to make it more digestible ; to 

 economize in amount; to give it some new property; and to preserve 

 it. The different grains are more easily eaten when ground, crushed, 

 or even boiled. Rye or wheat should never be given whole, and even 

 of corn it is found that there is less waste when ground, and, in com- 

 mon with all grains, it is more easily digested than when fed whole. 



Hay and fodder are economized when cut in short pieces. Not 

 only will the horse eat the necessary amount in a shorter time, but it 

 will be found that there is less waste, and the mastication of the grains 

 (whole or crushed) fed with them is insured. 



