176 CATTLE 



amount of oxygen contained in the same space is by no means 

 comparable in London and on, say, the South Downs. If, as 

 expected, legislation is to regulate the air space, the authorities 

 should differentiate between town and country. 



Water. — Rain water is preferable to any other if it can be 

 kept sweet. The water of many districts contains lime, and 

 the formation of stones and other troubles result. Again, in 

 other districts the streams are polluted by manufactories, or 

 there is lead in the soil over which the water-courses run, either 

 above or below ground. Well water is colder than the atmo- 

 sphere in summer, and therefore a source of colic and other 

 digestive troubles. Pond water receives all sorts of polluting 

 material, from the tramp's typhoid germs, to the red water from 

 the cow who will often pass it, if driven in when the owner wants 

 to see if she has the disease. 



If farm buildings are properly provided with gutters, a vast 

 amount of rain water can be saved and will keep sweet in open 

 tanks. Animals frequently prefer the coffee-coloured water, into 

 which the yard drains pass more or less tribute, and they appear 

 to be none the worse until some disease breaks out which cannot 

 be traced. Then it is found that the germs of disease have been 

 accidentally introduced. A sheep with the first symptoms of 

 anthrax may drink from the pond, or fall in when dead from its 

 use. A bucket will be dipped into it after it has been used to 

 wash the hands of the man who has opened a pig that died from 

 swine fever. So many sources of possible contagion might be 

 pointed out, but we have said enough to show the danger. 



The quantity of water which is estimated to be necessary for 

 a bullock, on board ship, is eight gallons per day but on land, the 

 temperature and other things have to be taken into consider- 

 ation. The milch cows which give five gallons of milk a day 

 must of course need more, and the fatting steer tied up and 

 getting scalded stuff and moist rations will need less. 



Feeding. — The ox, being a ruminant, requires a large amount 

 of time in which to repose while he brings back the food he has 

 gathered and which is only partially prepared for digestion. 



