650 GENERAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES 



have been formulated by means of physiological experiments 

 on healthy animals as employed for economic purposes. 



It is self-evident that nutritive ratios cannot be laid 

 down for diseased animals, and we must content ourselves 

 with observing how disease alters, in a general way, the 

 requirements of the normal animal. The following table of 

 nutritive ratios suitable for the animals and purposes named, 

 is taken from Armsby's " Cattle Feeding." The nutritive 

 ratio is estimated for 1000 lbs. live weight per diem. 



Nutritive Total lbs. of 



Ratio. Nutrients. 



Horses at work 1: 7 13.00 



Horses heavily worked.... 1 : 5.5 17.00 



Milch cows 1: 5.4 15.40 



Oxenatrest 1:12 8.85 



Sheep for wool. 1:9 11.70 



For example, the nutritive ratio, or the proportion of 

 lbs. of proteids to lbs. of carbohydrates and fat for horses at 

 work, should be as one to seven ; and the total number of 

 lbs. of pure fat (transformed into terms of carbohydrates), 

 carbohydrates, and protein required to support 1000 lbs. of 

 live weight of horses at work, per diem, is thirteen. 



Horses doing hard work, and all animals supplying 

 nitrogenous products, as wool and milk, demand more nitro- 

 gen in their food. The proteids, as we have seen, constitute 

 a large proportion of the solids and fluids of the body. A 

 greater part of the assimilated protein circulating in the 

 blood and fluids of the body is termed circulating protein, 

 and is mainly instrumental in supplying the immediate 

 needs required in the performance of the vital functions. A 

 smaller part of the proteids furnished the economy is fixed 

 as a constituent part of the tissues, and is called organic, or 

 tissue protein. If the amount of circulatory protein is 

 deficient, then the organized protein is called upon, the 

 tissues are robbed of their substance, and the body emaciates. 

 When a larger amount of protein is contained in the blood, 

 we have a proportionately larger elimination of nitrogenous 



