THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 183 



1. IJ bushels of (good) Oats, 



2. 1 1 cwt. of cut Straw, 



8. 42 lbs. Swedish Turnips. 



A week's allowance. 



Many animals are fed on this kind of diet for thirteen weeks, 

 until the work of spring commences ; then the food becomes 

 more nutritious, in the form of beans and pollard. 



American horsemen would call this hard fare, small potato 

 diet, but nevertheless, some of the English horses consume in the 

 course of 24 hours, 37 pounds of cut straw, and thrive, like 

 Jehu, on the same. 



The stomach must be made to work for a living once in 

 awhile ; hard work agrees with it ; coarse fodder stimulates and 

 develops its latent powers, and augments the gastric secretion, 

 which is the active solvent of the food. 



Labor operates on the stomach in the same manner, and in 

 the same ratio, that it does on the brain or muscles — increases 

 their capacity. Compare, for example, the brawny arm of the 

 mechanic with that of the counting-house clerk, or the powerful 

 muscles of the truck and farm horse with those of the pet sad- 

 dle-horse ; this comes of work, hard work. See the king of 

 birds, the eagle, towering above and beyond the sight and ken 

 of man, darting with almost lightning speed from mountain to 

 valley, buffeting the rude shocks of heaven's artillery ; — he 

 acquires strength of muscle and wing, by extraordinary exer- 

 tion and desperate feats of flight. After the same fashion we 

 develop the mental faculties and augment them ; protracted 

 mental labor, close thought and study, light up the intellectual 

 nature of man, and develop the latent powers of his brain, and 

 the more his mind acquires the greater are its powers. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that the various functions 

 of the body require periods of rest ; for, should a cow be per- 

 mitted to stand up to a full crib, and spend the greater part of 

 the day and night in cramming her stomach, disease, sooner or 

 later, must surely occur. The same is true as regards man. 

 Let an individual gormandize during the day, and then indulge 

 in a late supper, and continue the practice, he soon acquires a 

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