THE MULE. 33 



ac^vantages of working-mules over horses, for farming 

 piiiposes : they are more easily, surely, and cheaply 

 raised ; they are kept, after commencing work, for about 

 half the cost of keeping horses ; they are not subject to 

 many of the diseases of the horse, and to others only in 

 a mitigated form — and even these are easily cured in the 

 mule ; bleeding at the mouth will cure them of almost 

 every disease, and by being turned out to pasture they 

 will recover from almost every accident ; a broken- 

 winded one is scarcely ever known ; their skin is tougher 

 than that of the horse, consequently they are not as much 

 worried by flies, nor do they suffer so much by the heat 

 »f summer; they attain an age twice as great, and their 

 average working age is probably three times as great as 

 fnat of the horse ; the expenses of shoeing a mule do not 

 »^xceed one third that of the horse, the animal being 

 /\ghter, and his hoofs harder, more hairy, and so slow in 

 »heir growth, that shoes require no removal, and hold 

 «n till worn out. 



General Treatment. — In breaking mules they should 

 >^ mated with a swift-walking horse. As before stated, 

 Aiules are but little subject to disease, except inflamma- 

 ^ion of the intestines, or colic ; and that is generally 

 caused by the grossest exposure to cold and wet, or the 

 excessive drinking of cold water after severe labor, while 

 in a high state of perspiration. In severe cases of colic, 

 \ treatment similar to that prescribed for the horse, on 

 page 30, is recommended. In using the medicines, care 

 •should be had to proportion the doses to the comparative 

 size of the mule to the horse. 



To feed mules with hard, dry corn, is liable to pro- 

 duce colic. Oats are much better feed in every respect, 

 and may be given dry without danger, in any quantity, 

 though it is better to grind, or at least soak them in wa- 

 ter a few hours before feeding. Oats make tougher 

 muscle and harder flesh to work on than corn. If corn 

 is used, it ought to be ground with the cob, and mixed 

 up with water, slightly salted, a day or so before being 

 used. If it ferments previous to feeding, or if it can be 

 boiled like mush or hasty pudding, so much the better 

 as it then goes much farther, and is healthier for the an 

 3* 



