ON WATERING HORSES. 71 



by colic, or even by rupture of the stomach, owing to 

 the pressure exerted by the evolved gas. Hence, we 

 may conclude that the horse should be watered before 

 being fed. But if, as in case of want of time, this 

 precaution has not been observed, only small quantities, 

 with reasonable intervals to allow of its absorption, 

 should be allowed ; say 10 " go downs " at intervals of 

 five minutes, assuming 20 " go downs " to the gallon. 

 Considering the quickness with which a horse digests 

 his food, I think we may assume that he may be watered 

 2| hours after being fed, without any ill consequences. 

 The reason that soft is better than hard water for 

 horses a fact known to every careful stableman is 

 that the freer this fluid is of impurities which possess 

 astringent properties, the more readily will it become 

 absorbed into the blood. 



Kespecting the celerity with which water is assimi- 

 lated, I cannot do better than quote the following 

 extract from Seller and Stephens' Physiology of the 

 Farm : " That water passes with extreme rapidity 

 from the stomach of the horse, as from that of mammals 

 in general, is apparent from the well known fact that 

 a horse will drink within a few minutes a much 

 greater quantity than his stomach can contain. It is 

 commonly supposed that the excess passes at once into 

 the highest part of the small intestines, namely, the 

 duodenum. But this supposition is hardly necessary, 

 for it is proved that absorption of thin fluids takes place 

 from the inner surface of the stomach with an almost 

 incredible rapidity. This fact is established by many 

 experiments ; and moreover, that substances dissolved 

 in the water taken in have been found in the urine 



