72 WANT OF APPETITE. 



from the pain it gives him. In all such cases the horse 

 should be kept on scalded shorts, or cut feed, until the sore- 

 ness of the mouth is removed. In old horses, when the 

 lampas are down to a level with the front nippers, the part 

 should be washed with a strong solution of burnt alum : or 

 make a decoction of powdered bloodroot, and wash the part 

 night and morning. All serious internal disorders are attended 

 with loss of appetite. Weakness of appetite is often consti- 

 tutional, and cannot be cured ; yet it may be palliated : when 

 such a horse is wanted only for moderate work, his appetite 

 may be greatly improved by careful feeding, good grooming, 

 and a well-ventilated stable. The food must be of the best 

 quality, and the water pure, and not too cold or hard ; he 

 should have but little food at a time, but the more frequently. 

 He should never have more, but rather less, food put before 

 him at a time than he is inclined to eat ; and if, at any time, 

 he is found to leave food in the manger, it should be taken 

 out, and after keeping him without food for a short time, 

 some fresh hay, oats, or shorts may be given. The rack, 

 manger, and every part of the stall should be kept clean, and 

 when taken out for exercise or work, the stall should be well 

 swept out, the old litter spread out to dry, and that part unfit 

 for use taken away. At night some clean, fresh straw should 

 be placed under him. A change of food is often useful, 

 especially when green food or carrots can be obtained. It is 

 the custom in many stables to collect the bedding after it has 

 been saturated with the fluids of the excrement and urine, 

 and place it under the manger, thus submitting the horse to 

 the noxious vapors that arise from the filthy mass. Is it to 

 be wondered at, that the poor animals should drag out such a 

 miserable existence? 



Though a- good appetite is very desirable in the horse, 

 especially in one that works hard, yet the unlimited indul- 

 gence, as we have already shown, leads to serious conse- 

 quences. Some horses will do well on less food than others ; 

 but this does not form any objection to the establishment of 

 a fixed allowance, taking into consideration the age, size, and 



