190 



FOOD. 



to nourish any animal. Musty provender is supposed to engender worms 

 and other unpleasantnesses ; but tl^e author is disposed to attribute the 

 production of the parasites to a want of resistance in the system, which 

 may be inherited, or spring from a sickly state of the body, or which may 

 be produced by the consumption of unwholesome diet. 



Another advantage which is attendant on the employment of heat 

 and moisture is that, by its operation, the unwholesome nature of food, 

 if not absolutely corrected, is greatly ameliorated. The horse proprietor 

 is thus, in some measure, protected from those accidents to which every 

 stable is liable where a stud-groom does not preside over the establish- 

 ment, or where the owner is not remarkable for activity. The benefit 

 resulting from heat may, in a certain measure, be secured where no 

 steaming apparatus exists; but then two stout closely-shutting boxes of 

 galvanized iron and a scoop, together with a large kettle, are required. 



MACERATING BOX AND SCOOP. 



The food is placed in one of the receptacles ; then so much boiling 

 water should be poured upon it as experience has ascertained will be 

 entirely absorbed. This done, the lid is closed, and the confined steam 

 will partially cook the provender. The need for two boxes is to allow 

 the hay, chafF, or grain to remain for a longer period subjected to the 

 moisture, so that these substances may be thoroughly softened. This, 

 however, is a more troublesome method, and the mode does not equal, 

 in its results, the employment of steam where the vapor can be com- 

 manded ; but, whichever practice is adopted, the following regulations 

 should always be observed when the horses are fed. 



The mangers intended for the reception of softened provender must 

 be of a peculiar construction. The feeding compartment should possess 

 a lid, which may be let down when the manger is removed. This last 

 should always be taken out of the stable after it has been emptied ; the 

 interior should, at each removal, be thoroughly cleansed. The form of 



