THE CAUSES OF DIGESTIVE 

 DISORDERS I 



THE breeder and horse owner have not the 

 time or opportunity to acquire expert knowledge 

 of the diseases of the horse, but it will well repay 

 them to give a little thought and study to the 

 causes of preventive disorders, particularly to 

 those of the digestive organs. The exercise of a 

 little thought and judgment in the management 

 of a stable of horses will lessen to almost nil the 

 occurrence of digestive ailments among its in- 

 mates. There are certain affections to which 

 horseflesh is heir which it is impossible to prevent 

 under some circumstances, but those of the di- 

 gestive organs can be very largely prevented. 



We must study these causes under a number 

 of heads. First of all there is the condition of 

 the individual at time of feeding, the quantity 

 of the food, the character of the food, and the 

 form in which it is given. Under the foregoing 

 heads I have not included the natural predis- 

 position of some animals to digestive troubles, 

 for the inherent tendency to some affections can- 



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