150 VKTEKINARY HOMCEOPATHY. 



This, of course, is but an extremely rough and ready explana- 

 tion of what goes on in the system, and is offered with apologies for 

 meagreness of description, at the same time, were we to attempt 

 to offer anything like so elaborate an exposition of the subject as 

 its importance demands, we should proceed beyond the ken of those 

 for whom this book is written, and moreover far ex<-eed the pre- 

 scribed limits; our object is merely to convey a rough idea of the 

 digestive organs and of what they consist, so that readers may the 

 more readily follow us as we proceed to deal with various disorders 

 to which animals are subject in this portion of the organism. The 

 diseases of the digestive tract are certainly more under control 

 and capable of prevention on the part of stablemen and owners 

 than are those of any other portion of the animal body; the char- 

 acter and quality of the food; the methods and time of giving it, 

 are points which deserve far more careful consideration than they 

 generally receive; for instance, while the better-bred animals, such 

 as race-horses, trotters, and high-class harness horses are well pro- 

 vided for as to qualit3% it does not follow that necessary caution is 

 exhibited by the attendants as to the methods and time of feeding 

 and watering, having in view the nature of the work the horse 

 has been doing, or the time occupied in its performance; on the 

 other hand, take the coarser-bred animals, such as are worked 

 on farms, or for hauling purposes in large towns; here the character 

 and quality of the food is frequently very indifferent; they are ex- 

 pected to consume and dispose of all or anj^ of the coarsest material, 

 especially agricultural horses; at one time they may have to go for 

 six hours at a stretch without any food, while at others the man 

 will have a nosebag on almost continually, according to the par- 

 ticular work that is being done and the facilities it offers for this 

 sort of thing; what wonder, then, if under conditions of such 

 irregularity colic supervenes; ignorantly mistaken kindness at one 

 time and careless indifference at another. All descriptions of 

 horses, except the more carefully tended race-horse and trotter, 

 are liable to be kept out many hours at the stretch, and to make 

 up for this are, when brought home, immediately supplied with a 

 blow-out of water, and food enough is placed before them to 

 account for two or- three ordinary meals; not only does the animal 

 return home tired and leg weary, but his whole system is in sym- 

 pathy with the exhausted muscles, and the vital energ}^ is tempo- 



