ILL EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH FOOD. 121 



very hard and serviceable" (Sapwell). Lucerne is an excellent 

 food for young horses ; for it contains a large percentage of 

 lime. Naturally, it will not thrive unless its roots can obtain 

 a plentiful supply of lime. 



The foregoing remarks specially apply to the feeding of 

 young saddle horses and young horses of general utility, in 

 both of which classes bone is the chief requirement. As soil 

 which confers compact bone is not suitable for the production 

 of great height and immense bodily weight, both of which 

 are essential conditions in high-priced Shires ; these massive 

 giants cannot be raised on the dry limestone districts of 

 Ireland, or in Norfolk. The Fens suit them better. 



ILL EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH FOOD. 



The principal ill effects produced by an excess of food may 

 be classed according to the composition of the offending 

 article of fodder, as follows : 



1. Too high a percentage of water, as in the case of an 

 unduly large consumption of rank grass or roots, gives rise to 

 a laxative state of the bowels, which does not allow sufficient 

 time for digestion and absorption to be carried on efficiently, 

 and weakens the system by throwing an excessive amount of 

 work on the alimentary canal in passing the food onwards. 

 We have seen that it diminishes the power of breathing by 

 increasing the volume of the stomach and intestines, and 

 in extreme cases, as we find when horses are fed on boiled 

 turnips, the distension produced by an easily swallowed 

 and very bulky food, sets up serious digestive disturbances, 

 among which we may number colic brought on by impair- 

 ment of the strength of the muscular coat of the stomach 

 and intestines. 



2. An excess of fibre, like that of water, injuriously increases 

 the weight of the contents of the stomach and intestines 



