CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



MISCHIEF IN THE HORSE'S STOMACH. 



We sincerely hope that the reader will feel that we are fully justified 

 in our frequent references to the welfare of our horses, and the ad- 

 vantages to their owners of breeding, feeding and general care, also in 

 urging the desirability of keeping them in a healthy and vigorous con- 

 dition. 



The most common fault in dealing with the horse, and particularly 

 his stomach, and probably the most mischievous and detrimental, is in 

 giving water just after a full feed of -grain. Grain, unlike hay, has to 

 undergo gastric digestion in the stomach, where the nitrogenous ele- 

 ments have to be taken care of, and if, by the addition of water, the 

 grain is forced from the stomach into the bowels before this character of 

 digestion is accomplished, the food is practically lost. 



TOO MUCH WATER AFTER FEEDING IS A GREAT MIS- 

 CHIEF MAKER. 



Excessive draughts of cold water after feeding is a great mischief 

 maker, producing vascular congestion, and frequently violent muscular 

 contractions. It lowers the temperature, and otherwise intereferes with 

 digestion, and naturally tends to promote disorders of a dangerous char- 

 acter. At particular times a copious drink of water of only moderate 

 temperature is full of mischief. 



It is a good plan to always allay the thirst of the horse before giving 

 grain, and if any water is given after feeding, it should be but a few, and 

 only a few, swallows, until the digestion of the stomach is completed. 



TAKE WATER TO THE FIELD FOR THE HORSE AS WELL 

 AS THE MEN. 



When the farmer is working in the fields, the horse generally is 

 obliged to go from morning until noon, and from noon until night, 

 without water, when his driver is very careful to provide himself with 

 plenty of drinking water, and takes it often; never thinking that the 

 mute horse is suffering more than he would, if he had forgotten to pro- 

 vide for himself. A five-gallon keg, or one that will hold more, and 

 a pail, should be provided from which to give the horse an occasional ^ 

 small drink of water, which would be as fully appreciated by the horse as 

 the driver's drink is by him, and is but little trouble to take tn the 

 field. 



