54 HORSES: 



of the body, besides the undue dilution of this fluid 

 with water renders it inert and insures indigestion. 

 " When the stomach has got rid of a considerable 

 part of its contents, it seems a difficult matter for it 

 to force out the remainder," says this same Irish au- 

 thority, "and fermentation and colic sometimes re- 

 sult. [I can not believe that this would be the case 

 except from excess, unless it might be that the ani- 

 mal had not drunk enough prior to the meal to fur- 

 nish the blood with sufficient liquids. In this case 

 there might remain a residue of food in the stomach, 

 but such residue would have been better in the bin 

 after all.] A drink of water at such a time," he con- 

 tinues, " by carrying out the substance, which has re- 

 mained long enough, relieves the condition. This 

 probably explains why some tram-car [horse-car] 

 companies have found it advisable to water their 

 horses at midnight." 



SORE BACK. 



A vast amount of needless suffering is caused to 

 our patient and willing servants from this disease. 

 Many a horse, with high feed and little work, con- 

 stantly suffers, in spite of physics, with raw sores, ne- 

 cessitating constant changes of the position of the 

 saddle — to make a new sore while the old one heals. 

 This is not only painful to the horse, but also to the 

 tender-hearted owner, who so pities the noble creat- 

 ure that he *' favors" him all he can — by refusing to 

 have him harnessed for any one except when abso- 

 lutely necessary — himself going on foot to *' save " 



