268 VETERINARY LECTURES 



of these instances, the deaths have been attributed to anthrax, and 

 so caused great inconvenience through restrictions being put on 

 dreventing the removal of stock. 



400. Bran. — The feeding properties of the husk of wheat, 

 although extensively used, are looked upon as very limited. It is a 

 well-known fact that if a horse in regular work receives two or 

 three mashes of bran in succession it will be severely purged. This 

 is due to the exciting effects set up in the lining membrane of the 

 bowels by the indigestible nature of the bran ; and yet a good warm 

 bran mash is considered the best food for a tired and starved animal. 

 While a great many cattle feeders consider the money wasted that 

 may be laid out on bran, I am satisfied, from long observation and 

 practical trial, that it has a very important and highly beneficial 

 effect in the assimilation of food. Bran, or husk of wheat, as already 

 stated, from its indigestible nature, has a stimulating action on the 

 glands and absorbents studded all along the intestinal tract, exciting 

 them into greater action, and, by these means, more nutritive 

 material is taken up and assimilated from the food given with it than 

 would otherwise be done if the bran were withheld. Again, if bran 

 be damped with warm water up to 75 or 8o° F., and covered over 

 for three or four hours, a bacterial fermentation is established 

 which greatly increases its feeding properties. 



