FOOD FOR YOUNG HORSES. 119 



amides (p. 63), which must be reckoned along with the 

 carbo-hydrates. 



As the proportion which the fat bears to the carbo-hydrates 

 in milk is far higher than that in hay and corn, which we may 

 regard as the typical food for mature horses ; an addition 

 of fat to the fodder given to young animals is generally 

 advisable, and may be made by means of linseed (p. 162). 



The principal materials for development are albumen and 

 lime ; the former being needed for all the tissues ; the latter, 

 chiefly for bone, the composition of which is as follows : 



COMPOSITION OF BONE (Bloxam). 



Fat 5-4 



Nitrogenous matter . . 28.6 



Calcium phosphate . . 56.5 



,, fluoride . . . 1.2 



,, carbonate . . 7.3 



Magnesium phosphate . . i.o 



100.00 



Corn is particularly rich in easily digestible albumen ; and 

 grass, in phosphate of lime. Respecting the development of 

 bone, Wolff points out, that 1 ,000 Ib. of oats contain : 



6 Ib. 13 oz. phosphoric acid 

 I Ib. lime ; 



and that 1,000 Ib. of hay contains : 



4 Ib. phosphoric acid 

 9 Ib. 13 oz. lime. 



We may therefore conclude that the more we feed young 

 animals on corn within healthy limits, the stronger will be 

 their muscles and other tissues, but their bones will be want- 

 ing in size. This conclusion is strengthened by the fact that 

 the great majority of thoroughbreds which are reared for 

 racing, and which are largely fed on corn, are very light in 

 bone, at least from a hunting man's point of view. When, 



