38 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



give him an alcoholic stimulant on going into the stable. A small 

 quantity of haj' may then be given, but his grain should be withheld 

 for one or two hours. These same remarks will apply with equal force 

 to the horse that for an}' 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, its walls paralyzed, 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 entirch' 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 

 absorption. 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 arc 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 amouut of labor to be performed. If 

 a horse is to do a small amount of work, or rest entirely from v>'ork 

 for a few days, see that he receives a proportionate amount of feed. 

 If this should be observed even on Saturday night and Sunda}', there 

 would be fewer cases of "Monday morning sickness," such as colics 

 and Ivmphangitis. 



Foods should also be of a more laxative nature when the lior.se is to 

 stand for some daj's. 



Musty or moldy foods. — Above all things, avoid feeding musty or 

 mold}' foods. These are A'cry frequent causes of disease of different 

 kinds. Lung trouble, such as bronchitis and "heaves," often follows 

 the use of such food. The digestive organs alwaj's suffer from moldy 

 or musty foods. Must}^ hay is generall}- considered to produce dis- 

 order of the kidneys; a,nd all know of the danger to pregnant animals 

 from feeding upon ergotized grasses or grains. It has often been 

 said to produce that peculiar disease known variousl}' as cerebro- 

 spinal meningitis, putrid sore throat, or choking distemper. 



Leavijig these somewhat general considerations, I will refer briefly 

 to the different kinds of foods: 



Hay. — The best hay for horses is timoth}'. It should l)c about one 

 year old, of a greenish color, crisp, clean, fresh, and possessing a sweet, 

 pleasant aroma. Even this good hay, if kept for too great a length 

 of time, loses part of its nourishment, and, while it may not be posi- 

 tively injurious, it is hard, dry, and indigestible. New hay is difficult 

 to digest, produces much salivation (slobbering) and occasional purging 

 and irritation of the skin. If fed at all, it should be mixed with 

 old hay. 



