TREATMENT AFTER WORK — BEDDING. 137 



denly expended, and then follows a congestive cliill. 

 Hence the necessity of giving a warm horse a small quan- 

 tity at a time, till he wants no more. Horses after a 

 journey should not be allowed feed in small bulk, like oats 

 or corn, till the heart and lungs have been restored more 

 nearly to their quiet state ; a little hay may be given with 

 advantage, because it will prepare the empty stomach to 

 receive more solid food without giving rise to colic or acute 

 indigestion. The whole art of treatment after work con- 

 sists in making the horse comfortable, without causing 

 injury. A considerate horseman, on returning, will drive 

 slowly as he nears home, thus allowing the horse gradually 

 to cool off, obviating all injury from cold water or draughts 

 of cold air about the stable. 



What are we to say, however, to the inconsiderate driver, 

 who stables at " livery," where all horses return about the 

 same time, and all cannot be waited upon at once ? (See 

 Livery Stables.) 



Bedding for the stable is a matter of considerable 

 importance, not only as to its usefulness, but its expense, 

 for of late years, straw sold for this purpose seems con- 

 stantly to increase in price, so much so that we consider 

 the straw account the most important item in the expenses 

 of the city stable, and think that a cheaper substitute is 

 imperiously called for. 



Rye-straw, which forms the bedding of most of our 

 city or private stables, is perhaps not the best nor the 

 cheapest material that could be used, because its extreme 



