84 Nature, Uses, and Abuses of Bran. 



or with the provender of horses, is useful and 

 even profitable, there can be no doubt. This is 

 to be attributed to the mechanical action set up 

 by the siliceous particles, which obviates constipa- 

 tion, and preserves the proper action of the 

 digestive organs when given in a judicious man- 

 ner. Messrs. Hunting and Scott take advantage 

 of this property, and use it daily with their 

 superior mixtures of corn. 



As a laxative, bran is justly called into requi- 

 sition periodically as a warm mash for animals in 

 whom there exists an innate disposition to consti- 

 pation. I place the action of a bran mash, given 

 occasionally, as one of the safest, most natural, 

 and acceptable adjuncts towards the preservation 

 of health; which effect is produced with more 

 benefit and less deterioration to the system than 

 by any other means. There are few horses that 

 will not take it when offered as a change, and I 

 would recommend, especially in winter, that it be 

 given at the temperature of new milk, not cold, 

 and the use of it should not be insisted upon in- 

 discriminately, or ill effects are speedily shown. 



Nothing can be more anomalous than the 

 opinion entertained on the use of bran, as it ob- 

 tains in many quarters. Believed to be non- 

 nutritious, it is given largely during disease, to 

 ward off critical inflammation, which a diet of corn 

 might increase, but why it is persisted in with 

 animals suffering from general prostration and 

 weakening complaints is quite paradoxical. 



