LAXATIVE FOOD. 591 



Saw-dust will often be better than straw as bedding in cases of 

 lameness ; for it accommodates itself more readily to the animal's 

 movements. The same may be said of moss litter, or wood shavings. 



CLOTHING. — If the proper conditions of warmth cannot be ob- 

 tained by means of the temperatm^e of the sick box, we should em- 

 ploy, for this purpose, clothing, which should be light as well as 

 warm, and should be changed, beaten, brushed, and dried, as re- 

 quired. If the horse has an irritable skin, a cotton sheet should 

 be used between it and the body-piece. 



FEEDING SICK HORSES.— The appetite of these animals should 

 be tempted by presenting them with daintily prepared food. Its 

 natui'e should be judiciously varied and it should be given in small 

 quantities and often. Any that remains should be removed and 

 the manger cleaned, so that the patient may not become disgusted 

 by having rejected, sour messes imder his nose. 



Food and drink should not be forced on a horse ; for we should re- 

 member that the state of his appetite is the best guide by which 

 we may know whether his system requires food or not. 



LAXATIVE FOOD. — Under this general term, we may place a 

 number of articles of diet which are useful in allaying inflammatory 

 symptoms by inducing and keeping up a lax conditon of the bowels, 

 and in promoting the excretion of waste material from the system. 

 They also support the strength. The following list comprises the 

 usual ones employed : — 



Green Grass. Turnips ; especially swedes 



,, wheat. Gruel. 



,, oats. Bran mash. 



„ barley. Linseed and bran mash. 



Lucerne. Boiled barley. 



Carrots. Linseed tea. 



Parsnips. Hay tea. 



Apples. Linseed oil. 



To the above, we may add, for use in India, sugar cane, bamboo 

 leaves, boiled moong, boiled urud, boiled ladthee and ghi. 



The employinent of laxative food is specially indicated during the 

 acute stages of inflammatory diseases, and in cases of injury. 



Green grass, lucerne, and similar articles of fodder should be 

 dried before being given, if cut when in a wet state. 



Boiled grain should be cooked with a minimum of water, so that 

 it may be comparatively dry, when it is taken off the fire Salt 

 should always be given with it. 



