260 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



if more food is eaten than can be digested and absorbed, it 

 accumulates in the intestines, acting as foreign material, 

 produces irritation, causing colic or a similar disorder. If, 

 on the other hand, more food is taken, digested and absorbed 

 than can be appropriated by the different tissues, a condition 

 of plethora results, in which the circulatory system or the 

 lymphatic system becomes overloaded with nitrogenous or 

 other constituents. If overloading of the lymphatic system 

 of the extremities occurs, we have lymphangitis, or "Mon- 

 day morning disease," produced. 



By many people a mistake is made in that they Ijelieve it 

 possible, by allowing excessive quantities of rich food, to 

 keep an overworked animal in good condition. If we inves- 

 tigate this subject we shall see that such is not the case. 

 Work brings a])out rapid destruction of the tissue. The 

 material to repair or replace the destroyed tissue is contained 

 in the food of the animal. It must be brought into a suit- 

 able condition by digestion before it can be appropriated ])y 

 the tissue cells. The digestive organs are capable of a 

 definite amount of work, and an excessive destruction of 

 tissue over what can be replaced through digested food must 

 remain, for a time at least, unrepaired. The undigested 

 residue of the excessive quantity of food may remain in the 

 intestinal tract, causing disease. In case of over- worked 

 animals, the richer, more concentrated and easily digested 

 the food, the greater the amount appropriated by the tissues. 

 At the same time, it should be remembered that the reten- 

 tion in the intestines of undigested material rich in nitroo:e- 

 nous constituents is attended with more danger than in case 

 of retention of less rich food. An over-feed of grain may 

 cause serious consequences, whereas an over-feed of hay 

 rarely does harm. The influence of breed and individual 

 peculiarities are so marked in relation to digestion that it is 

 impossible to establish a rule that will apply in all cases. 

 Our aim should always be to supply food in sufficient quan- 

 tities, in an easily digestible form, so that enough nutrient 

 material may be provided for the repair of the tissues with- 

 out causing an overloading of the digestive organs. We 

 want to preserve a condition of balance between destructive 

 and reparative processes. 



