THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. Idl 



has within the body a vast generator and non-conductor of 

 heat in the form of adipose matter. It has been proved that 

 the immediate cause of death in warm blooded animals, when 

 food has been withheld, was their inability to keep up that 

 temperature necessary for the integi'ity of vital operations. 

 The animal located in an air-tight stable is, probably, sur- 

 rounded by an atmosphere almost equal in temperature to that 

 of his own body, and consequently he does not require so much 

 food as the former. Hence, the amount of food necessary in 

 the one case might be too much for another, and consequently 

 operate injuriously. 



A cold, bracing wind is said to " sharpen the appetite." 

 The inhabitants of northern regions require more food than 

 those of the southern. A horse, therefore, of weak, muscular 

 organization, the subject of debility, requires a comfortable 

 . stable, and food that will develop muscles. Now it has been 

 ascertained that horse-beans contain more of the nitro-albumin- 

 ous principled, than any other article- of diet. English horses 

 are very partial to the same, and in such, the development of 

 muscle is very remarkable ; consequently, a fat horse requires 

 less of the nitro-albuminous principle, and more of the aque- 

 ous in the form of carrots, potatoes, and beets. 



It must never be forgotten that some horses will keep in fair 

 working order on a moderate supply of aliment ; in such cases, 

 we infer that the digestive organs, are in a state of activity, 

 capable of extracting all the nutrient properties from the same. 

 On the other hand, a horse performs less work than the for- 

 mer ; consumes twice as much food : yet actually loses flesh. 

 The digestive organs are then at fault. A horse however may 

 lose flesh, become weak in his legs, etc., in consequence of 

 the laborious nature of his employment. Therefore, any de- 

 rangement occasioned in this way, prevents the food from 

 being converted into healthy chyme, chyle, or blood, and tlms 

 the necessary deposit of new matter is prevented. 



Most voracious feeders are dyspeptic, and such are almost 

 never free from intestinal worms ; their breath becomes foetid ; 

 saliva tlii^k and tenacious ; excrement slimy ; and should the 



