Objections to the Use of Dry Food. 55 



to a system of bruising and cutting of food 

 gains only one advantage, viz., the animal fills 

 his stomach quicker, and is thereby enabled to 

 take more rest. 



This property is pre-eminently claimed in favour 

 of cooked food, and in addition, that it is par- 

 tially digested for the animal. Experience and 

 systematic inquiry prove the fallacy of these 

 tenets. 



I have shown that digestion, when properly 

 carried on, is wonderfully rapid and effective. 



The stomach, being small, is rapidly emptied 

 again. This obtains in all horses, including those 

 fed on the manger system. 



Every one knows the effects of bran mashes. 

 How much more, then, must constant supplies of 

 food, supposed to be half digested at commence- 

 ment, containing much water, and being an un- 

 natural mixture, act like a foreign body ? 



The laws of the animal economy render such 

 results inevitable, for as quickly, in proportion, 

 as the stomach is voiding the digestible portions, 

 the sensation of hunger arises, and desire for food 

 is appeased by taking in more. Thus it will be 

 found, in opposition to the argument in favour of 

 a half-digested food, that the process of digestion 

 is accelerated, and more is required. Such food 

 always fails to give up the whole of its nutrition ; 

 the animal eats more, costs also more, and gains 

 the least by the method. 



It is thus that an equally long time is occupied 



