Diet of Sick Animals, 35 



Cradles are used in cases of fracture of the bones of tlie 

 jaw. Some are elaborately made of steel bands and leather 

 straps; but any inventive person can devise one from thin 

 and strong strips of wood and firm bandages, the object in 

 all cases being to maintain the fragments of the bones in 

 their natural positions until union has taken place between 

 them. Hatters' felt, stiffened wdth shellac, and hard rubber 

 in sheets, either of which can be moulded to the part when 

 moistened with hot water, are useful in such cases. 



FOOD AND DEINK. ' 



In sickness food requires to be given with special care and 

 in an easily digestible form, for in all serious diseases the 

 digestive powers are impaired. In not a few complaints of 

 a feverish character, both of horses and cattle, the ordinary 

 grains and dry fodders are not readily digested, and con- 

 sequently give rise to derangement of the stomach and 

 bowels. Such patients should be fed on mashes, gruels and 

 other soft food, to which milk and eggs can be added when 

 active nutrition is demanded. 



Food should never be allowed to lie long before a sick 

 animal. If not promptly consumed it should be removed, 

 and in a couple of hours or less time another supply be fur- 

 nished. In most cases of disease, it is better to give small 

 quantities at a time, and have it often repeated. With re- 

 turning appetite, a convalescing animal will often eat more 

 than is good for him, and thus bring about a relapse of the 

 disease. With the horse, it must be remembered that his 

 stomach is small for his size, and that even in health he does 

 not bear hunger nearly so well as man, and requires food as 

 often as every four hours. He also urgently desires a change 

 of diet, neither grain nor clean hay alone fully satisfying his 

 craving. 



