VETERINARY HYGIENE AND DIETETICS. 81 



It is of the greatest importance that the hay be properly cured; 

 damaged by rain, it is very injnrioiis to the animal's health. 

 "We often trace diseases of the nrinary organs to mouldy and 

 mow-burnt hay. 



GEAIN. 



The horse must receive a portion of grain; as a general rule, 

 one-half the food given him should be of this character. The 

 hoi-se at rest requires less feed, and he requires less grain in 

 warm than in cold climates. When the horse is worked and 

 undergoing long-continued muscular exertion, he requires more 

 feed than when standing idle. There is gTeater difference in the 

 quality and value of the different grains than in the various 

 grasses. Corn and oats are more extensively used in this coun- 

 tr)^ than other grains. This is due, perhaps, to some extent to 

 their convenience, they being much less trouble than other foods. 

 Oats, as part of the food, is the best for the horse. Com alone is 

 objectionable. It is heating to the blood and harder to digest. 

 The oats may be fed unbroken, but are much better when 

 ground. Oats imground are often not thorough masticated, and 

 hence pass the stomach not thoroughly digested. Corn, when 

 used alone, is very objectionable — the fruitful source of many 

 diseases in the horse. INIany a young animal has been ruined by 

 feeding exclusively upon corn. It not only shows its bad effects 

 in acute diseases of the digestive organs known as colic and acute 

 indigestion, but in various cutaneous diseases and inflammation 

 as a result. Many horses' teeth are so neglected that they can- 

 not sufficiently masticate the grain. The whole food is taken 

 into the stomach unmasticated; it heats and ferments, and then 

 follow the evil consequences of colic. But few young horses fed 

 on corn escape indigestion. AVhen corn is used, it should only 

 be in part. Bran fed with com makes it safer. The horse should 

 have a good bran mash at least twice a week. Eye and barley 

 mixed make an excellent chop feed. Carrots, turnips, beets, 

 pumpkins, potatoes, cabbage, apples, and similar green feeds are 

 good during winter while living on dry foods. 

 6 



