140 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



of converting straw into a nourishing food. The second, M. 

 Jos. Maitre, of Vilotte, near Chatillon. 



" This distinguished agriculturist, known for the purity and 

 perfection of his breeds of sheep, conceived the idea of con- 

 verting into farina not only the straw of wheat and other 

 grains, but of hay, trefoil, lucerne, sanfoin, etc. His efforts are 

 said to have been perfectly successful, and his discovery arrived 

 at, not by chance, but by long experiment and research. The 

 aliment which he has produced is said to be a complete sub- 

 stitute for bran. It is given to sheep and lambs, who consume 

 it with avidity, and may be given to all other graminivorous 

 animals as a grateful and substantial food. We know in this 

 country that the mere chopping of straw adds greatly to its 

 powers by facilitating mastication and digestion. We may be- 

 lieve that a more perfect comminution of its parts will produce 

 a corresponding effect, and extend very widely the uses of straw 

 and other fodder as a means of feeding our domestic animals." 



The climate or temperature of the surrounding atmosphere has 

 a wonderful effect on the animal machine. Let two horses be 

 located in different stables, one of which shall be like " Jack 

 Straw's" house — neither wind-tight nor water-proof; the 

 other is built on tlie air-tight principle, the' occupant of the 

 former will require more food than he of the latter, because 

 cold air has a depressing influence on the body, exhausting 

 superficial heat. Our readers are probably aware that if a hot 

 brick be placed in contact with a cold one, the caloric radiated 

 from the first, is absorbed by the latter, until a sort of equilib- 

 rium be established. The same is true as regards the body of a 

 horse, he being in an atmosphere many degrees less than that of 

 his own body, gives off the heat of the same to the surrounding 

 medium. The heat thus given off, has to be replaced by food, 

 which is the combustible material. But it often happens that 

 the digestive organs are deranged — incapable of assimulating 

 a sufficiency of carbonaceous material to maintain even the 

 normal temperature of the body. The consequences are loss 

 of flesh and health. On the other hand, a fat animal can endure 

 the depressing influences of a cold atmosphere, because \i^ 



