34 OJf PEEDI^'G HOESES. 



designated fat. "When, liowever, the food is poor, or in 

 quantity not too abundant for the labour performed, the con- 

 stituents named are for the most part consumed, in addition to 

 the waste substances of the body. 



Pood, then, to be thoroughly suitable to the animal, must 

 possess a twofold capability. It must contain elements to 

 supply the waste of the body generally ; that is, the waste of 

 such structures as muscle, brain, bone, skin, and other textures 

 which enter into the formation of the animal; and it must 

 also contain carbonaceous elements, or elements capable of 

 uniting with oxygen, so that heat may be generated, and the 

 temperature of the organism maintained. The food usually 

 given to the horse possesses this double capability ; hence we 

 at once perceive that it should fulfil this twofold condition. In 

 addition it may be remarked, that food for horses should at all 

 times be of the best quality, and the animal continually live in a 

 pure atmosphere. If the food be not good, neither will the 

 various structures composing the body be sound or good ; while 

 if the animal be kept in a vitiated atmosphere, as for instance, 

 in a badly ventilated stable, blood cannot be made of the 

 required purity, nor can the animal heat be generated so well 

 or so vigourously as desirable. Pure food supplied in abun- 

 dance, implies purity and abundance of blood ; and as a general 

 physiological truth, such purity and abundance of blood may 

 be held to promote the great disiderata, viz., increased vital 

 power, and additional physical vigour to the horse. 



The uses of food, and its necessity to the organism has, I 

 trust, been clearly and simply shewn. The next things to 

 observe, are the kinds of food best adapted to the wants of the 

 horse, and the best modes in which to administer it. 



