310 THE HORSE 



chills and founder in severely worked horses. The only 

 reason for not providing it is that it is not usually con- 

 venient to do so. In a few cases, steam is in the barn 

 or can be generated easily and cheaply, in which case it 

 is wise and profitable to heat the water for both cattle 

 and horses, in cold weather. Horses consume less water 

 than cows in milk. The average for horses at work is 

 not far from forty pounds and for cattle in milk sixty 

 pounds daily. The taking into the system of such large 

 quantities of water often at or near the freezing point, 

 is not conducive to economy or health; for this water 

 must be raised by the use of food to blood-heat, quickly. 

 Since it takes more units of heat to raise a unit of water 

 one degree in temperature than any other food sub- 

 stance, it can easily be understood that a considerable 

 part of the ration of the animal must be used in rais- 

 ing the temperature of the water. However, the matter 

 is largely a financial one. In some parts of our coun- 

 try roughage is cheaper than coal; in other sections, 

 the reverse is true. 



In the winter, horses are likely to become consti- 

 pated. Their voidings should be watched closely, for 

 constipation is the mother of many ills. Carrots are 

 much relished by horses kept on dry foods. Unsalable 

 apples, if fairly ripe, or small potatoes, may be fed to 

 advantage in small quantities, though they are of small 

 nutritive value. Mangolds are fairly good and cheap of 

 production, as twenty -five to forty tons per acre can be 

 raised and the cost per bushel is not more than one -half 

 as much as of carrots. A hot bran mash is a most excel- 

 lent regulator of the bowels. However, a gill per day of 



