42 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRr. 



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 common 

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



Hay and fodder arc 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. 



Keference has alread}' been made to those horses that bolt their food, 

 and we need only remark here that the consequences of such ravenous 

 eating may be prevented if the grains are fed with cut ha}^, straw, or 

 fodder. Long or uncut hay should also be fed, even though a certain 

 amount of hay or straw is cut and fed mixed with grain. 



One objection to feeding cut hay mixed with ground or crushed grains, 

 and wetted, must not be overlooked during the hot months. Such food 

 is apt to undergo fermentation if not fed directly after it is mixed; and 

 the mixing trough even, unless frequentl}"^ scalded and cleaned, becomes 

 sour and enough of its scrapings are given with the food to produce 

 flatulent (wind) colic. A small amount of salt should always be mixed 

 with such food. Bad hay should never be cut simply because it insures 

 a greater consumption of it; bad foods are dear at any price and should 

 never l^e fed. 



I have before spoken of the advantage of boiling roots. Not only 

 does this render them less liable to produce digestive disorders, but it 

 also makes them clean. Boiling or steaming grains is to be recom- 

 mended when the teeth are poor, or when the digestive organs are weak. 

 Of ensilage as a food for horses I have no experience, but am inclined 

 to think that (and this opinion is based upon the imperfect manner in 

 which the crop is often stored) disordered digestion would be more 

 frequent were it extensivel}' fed. 



DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



Dentition. — This covers the period during which the young horse is 

 cutting his teeth — from birth to the age of five 3"ears. With the horse 

 more difficulty is experienced in cutting the second, or permanent, teeth 

 than with the first, or milk, teeth. There is a tendenc}' among farmers 

 and many veterinarians to pa}^ too little attention to the teeth of young- 

 horses. Percivall relates an instance illustrative of this that is best 

 told in his own words: 



I was requested to give my opinion concerning a horse, then in his fifth year, who 

 had fed so sparingly for the last fortnight, and so rapidly declined in condition in 

 consequence, that his owner, a veterinary surgeon, was under no light apprehensions 

 about his life. He had himself examined his mouth without having discovered any 

 defect or disease, though another veterinary surgeon was of opinion that the diffi- 

 culty or inability manifested in mastication, and the consequent cudding, arose from 

 preternatural bluntness of the surfaces of the molar teeth, which were, in conse- 

 quence, filed, but without beneficial result. It was after this that 1 saw the horse, 



