274 BEDDING. 



without delay. According to some veterinary authorities, 

 tan forms a favourable ground for the cultivation of the 

 germs of tetanus. We should here take into account the 

 fact that the tan used for bedding is " spent " tan, which 

 contains a considerable quantity of readily decomposable 

 organic matter. The small amount of elasticity possessed by 

 tan, and the hardness of its particles, evidently prevent it 

 from being a very comfortable bedding. The tan which has 

 been used for horses, forms, in combination with the dung 

 and urine, a valuable manure. This appears to be its only 

 recommendation. Horses show such a marked dislike to the 

 smell of tan, especially on approaching tanneries, that I 

 cannot see how it can be regarded as an agreeable bedding 

 for them. 



FERNS, FIR NEEDLES, AND MOSS. 



I have had no practical experience with any of these 

 bedding materials, which I have heard answer their purpose 

 fairly well. 



SAND. 



Horses appear to like sand as a bedding, for they often 

 show a great inclination to roll on it when they find it under 

 them. It makes a cool bedding in hot weather. Sea sand 

 should on no account be used, because horses are liable to eat 

 it. Many cases are on record of horses which were bedded on 

 sand, eating enormous quantities of it with fatal results. The 

 indulgence of this form of depraved appetite is no doubt 

 prompted by the presence of salt in the sand, and was 

 probably strengthened in the cases in question, by the fact 

 that the afflicted animals had previously suffered from 

 deprivation of this essential adjunct to their food. As sand 

 obtained even from inland places may very possibly contain 

 traces of salt, it is evident that if we are obliged to employ 



