On Straw Cutting and Mangel WurtzeL 111 



system. This preparation is mainly performed by maceration, or soak- 

 ing, in the liquids found floating in the stomach ; the most powerful of 

 which is the gastric juice. The more points of the food are exposed to 

 the action of these fluids, the more nutriment is extracted. Chaffing 

 has the effect of a double mastication, and exposes every particle of 

 the food to the action of the juices. Whereas long hay, or other pro- 

 vender, swallowed, as it commonly is, hastily and not sufficiently chew- 

 ed, is only operated on partially ; and a great proportion passes through 

 the intestines with the nutriment unextracted, wastefully and uselessly. 

 Cattle and other ruminant (cud-chewing) animals have more stomachs 

 than the horse ; which has only one. Of consequence the macerations 

 are repeated ; and they will thrive on coarser food than that proper for 

 a horse. Yet for them, chaffing is essentially useful. 



R. Peters. 



