100 THE ECONOMICS OF FEEDING HORSES 



omitted from the food. Even if not altogether unsuitable, 

 some constituent of the diet may be in excess, and here 

 again it must be reduced to proper proportions. 

 Diseases of the stomach usually benefit by the with- 

 holding of all food until such time as the organ has been 

 emptied of gas or ingesta and has recovered its tone. 

 Too early feeding with an easily fermentable material 

 like bran mash may possibly be responsible for prolong- 

 ing some of these cases. It is well to give scalded hay 

 and the "tea" derived from it before allowing the 

 animal to resume ordinary diet. 



In bowel obstruction, after the mass has been moved 

 on, equal parts of scalded chaff and bran make the best diet ; 

 but in all the inflammatory conditions of the intestines, 

 which are usually manifested by diarrhoea, the bowel 

 should be rested as much as is consistent with treatment, 

 and large draughts of water should not be allowed. The 

 hypersensitive bowel is readily irritated by indigestible 

 fibre, husks, and the flakes of bran, so that oatmeal, 

 gruel, linseed-tea, hay-tea, milk and eggs are indicated 

 according to the severity of the case. Carbo-hydrates in 

 the form of starch enemata are often given to young 

 stock. As recovery proceeds, more substantial ingredi- 

 ents should be given but bran, on account of its 

 mechanical irritant action, should not be very con- 

 spicuous. 



In cases of lymphangitis (weed or humour), 

 where it is desired to hasten the action of the bowel 

 and so relieve the lymphatic system indirectly, 

 bran mashes are indicated. After a few days these 

 should be substituted by bran and chaff. 



The average number of horses on the sick-list varies 

 considerably according to the supervision that is exercised 



