36 



position or the growth of organisms which act as poisons when 

 ingested by the animal. The rust, mildews and smuts are included 

 among these substances. Improperly cured hay which has become 

 dusty exercises an injurious influence upon the respiratory organs 

 of the horse. Musty, mouldy hay causes irritation, indigestion, 

 colic, purgation, etc., when fed to horses. Partially fermented 

 corn, corn meal, bran or other grains produce similar effect. Oats 

 that have become covered with moulds, either in the field or while 

 in storage, or other feeds in like condition, bring on in many 

 instances, when fed, disease of the kidneys, characterized by pas- 

 sage of large quantities of urine. The production of abortion by 

 feeding ergotized rye or grasses to pregnant animals is an example 

 of disease caused by the use of feed defective in quality. Ergot 

 may also cause gangrene of the extremities or* disorders of the 

 nervous system. 



What has been said regarding the use of foods of inferior qual- 

 ity applies in general to all of our farm animals, but more es- 

 pecially to the horse. This animal is more liable to suffer on this 

 account, owing to the structure and sensitiveness of its digestive 

 organs. 



Frequency of feeding is indicated by the anatomical arrange- 

 ment of the digestive organs of the horse. On average pasturing 

 they feed almost continuously, whereas cattle feed for a few hours 

 during the early part of the day, remaining quiet and remasticating 

 the food during the middle of the day, and feeding again in the after- 

 noon. Gastric digestion goes on rapidly in equines, and as soon 

 as the stomach becomes partially emptied the blood supply is 

 greatly diminished. If a large amount of food is taken into the 

 stomach after a prolonged fast, it is not digested. The organ 

 suddenly becomes distended, the walls paralyzed and inactive. 

 Blood does not enter the vessels surrounding the glands, conse- 

 quently no juices are secreted and no digestion takes place. 

 Under these conditions after a short time fermentation of the food 

 mass becomes established, gas is given off, resulting in an attack 

 of gastric flatulence, flatulent colic, or perhaps rupture of the 

 stomach follows. Experience has demonstrated that the same 

 quantity of feed, divided into three parts, given at morning, noon 

 and night, gives better results with horses than when given at 

 two feeds. 



Sudden changes of feed should be avoided. A man can make 

 no greater mistake in the treatment of his horse than to take him 

 from a pasture, where he has been without grain, and, in anticipa- 

 tion of a hard day's work or a long drive, feed him a liberal 

 quantity of oats, corn or other grains. The folly of such treat- 



