FOOD OF POULTRY. 17-D 



mixed with boiled bran ; and this mess, with the addition of 

 pepper, forms a valuable dietetic. 



It is of great importance to remark, that, in order to promote 

 natural and healthy digestion, quantity in the food is as neces- 

 sary as quality, bulk is as requisite as nutriment. Improper 

 combinations and concentrations are decidedly pernicious, and 

 must be carefully avoided. This rule is as imperative in 

 regard to other animals as to poultry ; and a single fact will 

 supply an apt and ample illustration. In some of the early 

 importations of blood cattle from Great Britain, many of them 

 died from want of hay, though they had sufficient corn, or 

 concentrated nutritious matter, for their daily food. The rea- 

 son was at once supposed to be that their diet, though excel- 

 lent in itself, and amply sufficient to sustain life so far as its 

 nutritive properties was concerned, was, nevertheless, deficient 

 in the property of distending the stomachs of the animals, and 

 thus to assist in (he process of digestion. As it was impossi- 

 ble, on ship-board, to obtain a supply of the desired article, 

 the person having charge of them hit upon a happy and suc- 

 cessful expedient. He caused the extra pine spars on board 

 to be shaved fine, and given to the cattle as a substitute for hay. 

 On this food, mixed with their usual diet, the remaining ani- 

 mals entirely recovered before reaching the end of the voyage. 

 Bulk is absolutely necessary to be considered in feeding the 

 minor animals, and its use is to facilitate the peristaltic motion, 

 and to promote the natural and healthy secretions. It is cer- 

 tain, moreover, that such food as does not swell in the stomach, 

 and thus expand that organ, will, if constantly given, induce a 

 well-defined dyspepsia, and all its consequent train of maladies, 

 and the victim of ignorance and of carelessness must eventually 

 die. 



