50 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



in nowise, prove injurious, for it will be speedily eli- 

 minated by the kidneys, after the system has taken up 

 sufficient for its own requirements. It furnishes the 

 elements for the supply of the hydro-chloric acid, which 

 is a constituent of the gastric juice. It also plays a 

 most important part in the whole nutrition of the body. 

 " It was demonstrated by Boussingault, that when , 

 of two sets of oxen, one was allowed the unrestricted 

 use of salt, whilst the other was as far as possible 

 deprived of its use, a marked contrast was observable in 

 the course of a few weeks between them, and manifestly 

 to the advantage of the former. The desire for common 

 salt on the part of animals and man is extremely 

 powerful, leading the former, especially if they be 

 vegetable feeders, to traverse great distances to reach 

 saline deposits." (Carpenter.) 



Relations of Cold, Heat, and Clothing to Food. When 

 the temperature of the surrounding air falls much below 

 its normal degree, a proportionate increase of starch and 

 fat, to keep up the natural temperature of the body, should 

 be made to the food of the animal, if it be unsupplied 

 with warm clothing, which, by preventing radiation, 

 supplements the action of the fatty layer that lies 

 immediately underneath the skin. Hence a judicious 

 addition of clothing may be practically regarded as an 

 addition to the food ; so that, when it cannot be made, 

 the latter ought to be given. In hot weather, the 

 animal will naturally require less food. 



Mastication and Digestion. The long hairs about 

 the horse's muzzle serve him as feelers in the selection 

 of the food, which his lips convey into his mouth, aided. 



