264 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



eition of the milk teeth is by no means a firm one, as they 

 are only retained in their places by the adhesion of the gums. 

 Every hard substance that comes in contact with them is 

 likely to move or twist them about. 



Soreness and inflammation almost invariably accompany 

 shedding. Perhaps there is no time, until this operation is 

 over, that the mouth and gums are wholly free from fever 

 and swelling. The bad condition of many young colts, fol- 

 lowing loss of flesh and appetite, may be traced to these cir- 

 cumstances. It is easy to test the matter by examining the 

 parts. Nor is the loss of appetite the only or chief difficulty 

 in such cases. The character of the saliva undergoes an in- 

 jurious change from the feverish influences of the mouth and 

 gums, and, being carried to the stomach in this condition, 

 it naturally produces derangement of the digestive process. 

 No doubt many a serious disease of the mature horse origin- 

 ated at this period of his life, and is largely attributable to 

 the eftects of shedding. 



TREATMENT. 



Not much either can or should be done in the way of med- 

 ication while the colt is teething and shedding. The great 

 consideration is his diet, and to this too much attention 

 can not well be paid. Keep away from him solid and heat- 

 ing food, and let him have only such a moist, light diet as 

 can easily be supplied him in winter, by provender, cut feed, 

 and small quantites of oats ; Avhile for the summer season, 

 pasture is 'not only the most readily procurable food, but is 

 immeasurably the best. 



In the cotton States, where pastures are poor and scanty, 

 it is almost impossible to raise a colt by any ordinary degree 

 of care. There the young creatures are generally fed on 

 corn, and on corn fodder, which is still worse, and the large 

 majority of them become diseased and die. They are not 

 unfrequently troubled with big head, though such is the 

 vigor of the system at this age that they withstand its at- 

 tacks much better than old horses. Green grass we consider 



