468 Hygiene and Medicines, 



the utmost fitness for tlie purpose for which the animal is 

 kept. 



HYGIENE OF THE HORSE. 



Food. — The hv2:iene of the horse has reference first to his 

 food. As we have previously mentioned, the horse has but 

 one stomach, and that not at all a large one for his size. 

 Hence he requires food in moderate quantity, but frequently, 

 at least every four or five hours. In regard to quality, he is 

 best suited by a mixed diet of grain and hay. In propor- 

 tion as the work demanded of him is arduous the proportion 

 of the grain (whether corn, oats, peas or beans) should be 

 increased ; whereas, when the work is not severe, and when, 

 as in private carrit>ge horses, it is desirable that they should 

 present a roundness and plumpness of form, it is necessary 

 to diminish the amount of grain, or otherwise the animal 

 becomes plethoric, and "out of condition." 



Attention must also be given, in this respect, to the indi- 

 vidual constitution of the horse. Some animals are said to 

 be more "easily kept" than others. This usually depends on 

 the greater perfection of their digestive organs. They as- 

 similate all the nutriment there is in their food; while ahorse 

 which is "hard to keep" will generally be found to pass with 

 his evacuations a considerable percentage of undigested ali- 

 ment. A- remedy for the latter condition will often be 

 found in selecting food of a rather constipating character, 

 giving it well ground, so that the digestive fluids will act on 

 it easily, keeping the teeth in good repair, allowing but a 

 moderate quantity of water, and if called for, by administer- 

 ing a light tonic. A very important point in such cases is to 

 keep the skin active, by brushing, washing and clipping. 



Those who would raise a fine breed of horses should pay 

 especial attention to the food of mares during pregnancy. 

 Messrs. Seller & Stephens, in their excellent treatise on 



