DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



By CH. B. MICHENER, V. S. 

 [Revised In 1003 by Leonard Pearson, B. 8., V. M. !>.] 



It will not prove an easy task to write " a plain account of the 

 common diseases, with directions for preventive measures, hygienic 

 care, and the simpler forms of medical treatment," of the digestive 

 organs of the horse. This study includes a careful consideration of 

 the food and drink of our animals, their quality, quantity, analyses, 

 etc. This, of itself, is material for a book. Being limited as to 

 space, the endeavor must be made to give simply an outline to state 

 the most important facts leaving many gaps, and continually check- 

 ing the disposition to write anything like a full description as to 

 cause, prevention, and modes of treatment of disease. 



These articles are addressed entirely to farmers and stock owners, 

 and I must ask my professional brethren to bear this in mind when 

 they are disposed to complain of a want of scientific treatment of 

 the subjects. 



WATER. 



It is generally held, at least in practice, that any water that stock 

 can be induced to drink is sufficiently pure for their use. This prac- 

 tice occasions losses that would startle us if statistics were at hand. 

 Water that is impure from the presence of decomposing organic mat- 

 tor, such as is found in wells and ponds in close proximity to manure 

 heap* ami cesspools, is frequently the cause of diarrhea, dysentery, 

 and many other diseases of stock, while water that is impregnated 

 with different poisons and contaminated with specific media of con- 

 tagion produces death in very many instances. 



Considering fir>t the quantity of water required by the horse, it 



may lie Mated that when our animals have access to water continually 



they never drink to excess. Were the horse subjected to ship voyages 



or any other circumstances where he must depend upon his attendant 



the supply of water, it may !* roughly stated that each horse 



a daily average of about 8 gallons of water. This will vary 



xnewhat upon the character of his food; if ,,,, green food less 



I needed than wh.-n fe<l upon dry hay and grain 



me of giving wafer should be carefully studied. At' rest, the 



J receive water at least three times a day; when at work, 



frequently. The rule should be to ^ive in small quantities and 



Pheiv is a popular fallacy that if a horse is warm he should 



e allowed to drink, many claiming that the first swallow of water 



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