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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