CHAPTEK VI. 



PRACTICAL RULES FOR FEEDING AND WATERING HORSES. 



FROM the theoretical considerations detailed in the 

 two preceding chapters, and from the results of ex- 

 perience, we may draw the following conclusions ; 



1. The horse's corn should be given dry; except 

 when the grain such as linseed, kulthee, &c. is too 

 hard, in its natural condition, to be properly masti- 

 cated ; when, from old age and other causes, the 

 animal's powers of chewing are impaired ; and when 

 the appetite has to be humoured in sickness. 



The only way I can account for the Indian practice 

 now happily falling into disuse of steeping gram in 

 water, before giving it to the horse, is that it is done 

 with the idea of causing the gram to swell, as much 

 as possible, before entering the stomach, in order that 

 it may not do so after arriving there, especially, if the 

 animal be, subsequently, supplied with water. Those 

 who adopt such a precaution, entirely ignore the fact 

 that it is the evolution of gas resulting from the 

 decomposition of the food which produces flatulent 

 colic and rupture of the stomach, and not any swelling 

 of the gram, which, if it be given dry as we have 

 previously seen will become saturated with a greater 

 quantity of saliva than that of its own bulk, before it 



