WATERING HORSES. 59 



As the amount of the secretion, necessary for digestion, 

 varies from 10 to 20 gallons daily (Brinton), and 

 as about 99 per cent of it is composed of water, we 

 find that the process of digestion, during the day, 

 demands the outpouring of double or treble the amount 

 of water for the gastric juice, than there is blood in the 

 whole body. Now, as this water is derived directly 

 from the blood, its adequate supply can only be obtained 

 by the constant reabsorbtion, in the stomach, of the 

 watery portion of the effete gastric juice, as well as of 

 that of other fluids which may be present. Considering 

 the enormous quantity of water required for the secre- 

 tion of the gastric juice, we may accept the fact that 

 drinkirg a small quantity of water with the food is 

 not alone free from objection, but may be actually 

 beneficial. On this point we may safely trust to the 

 instinct of the animal in leaving a supply of water 

 before him while he is eating, provided always that he 

 has had a full opportunity of drinking shortly before 

 being fed. 



If (as we have seen in the proceeding chapter), while 

 digestion be going on, a large amount of water be taken 

 into the stomach, it will dilute the gastric juice to an 

 extent that will probably arrest its action until the 

 excess of water becomes absorbed. During this interval, 

 decomposition of the food, with consequent derange- 

 ment of the digestion, may ensue, followed, perhaps, 

 by colic, or even by rupture of the stomach, owing to 

 the pressure exerted by the evolved gas. Hence, we may 

 conclude that the horse should be watered before being fed. 

 But if, as in case of want of time, this precaution has 



