42 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



serve it. We have already spoken of the preparation of drying, and 

 need not revert to this again, as it only serves to preserve the different 

 foods. Drying does, however, change some of the properties of food, 

 i. e., removes the laxative tendency of most of them. 



The different grains are more easily eaten when ground, crushed, or 

 even boiled. Rye or wheat should never be given whole, and even of 

 corn it is found that there is less waste when ground, and, in common 

 with all grains, it is more easily digested than when fed whole. 



Hay and fodder are economized w^ien cut in short pieces. Not 

 only will the horse eat the necessary amount in a shorter time, but it 

 will be found that there is less waste, and the mastication of the grains 

 (whole or crushed) fed with them is insured. 



Reference has already been made to those horses that bolt their 

 food, and we need only remark here that the consequences of such 

 ravenous eating may be prevented if the grains are fed with cut hay, 

 straw^, or fodder. Long or uncut hay should also be fed, even though 

 a certain amount of hay or straw is cut and fed mixed with grain. 



One objection to feeding cut hay mixed with ground or crushed 

 grains, and wetted, must not be overlooked during the hot months. 

 Such food is apt to undergo fermentation if not fed directly after it 

 is mixed ; and the mixing trough even, unless frequently scalded and 

 cleaned, becomes sour and enough of its scrapings are given with the 

 food to produce flatulent (wind) colic. A small amount of salt 

 should always be mixed with such food. Bad hay should never be 

 cut simply because it insures a greater consumption of it; bad foods 

 are dear at any price and should never be fed. 



I have before spoken of the advantage of boiling roots. Not only 

 does this render them less liable to produce digestive disorders, but it 

 also makes them clean. Boiling or steaming grains is to be recom- 

 mended when the teeth are poor, or when the digestive organs are 

 weak. Of ensilage as a food for horses I have no experience, but am 

 inclined to think that (and this opinion is based upon the imperfect 

 manner in which the crop is often stored) disordered digestion would 

 be more frequent were it extensively fed. 



DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



Dentition. — This covers the period during which the young horse is 

 cutting his teeth — from birth to the age of five years. With the 

 horse more difficulty is experienced in cutting the second, or per- 

 manent, teeth than with the first, or milk, teeth. There is a tendency 

 among farmers and many veterinarians to pay too little attention to 

 the teeth of young horses. Percivall relates an instance illustrative 

 of this that is best told in his own words : 



I was requested to give my opinion concerning a horse, then in his fifth year, 

 who had fed so sparingly for the last fortnight, and so rapidly declined in con- 



