FEEDING 315 



Nothing contributes more to the health of a 

 horse than feeding regularly, and at fixed intervals. 

 As his digestion is very rapid, he should be regularly 

 fed. When kept long without food, the horse is apt 

 to take his meal too rapidly, and by distending the 

 stomach produce tympanitis and rupture. 



That the food may be well ground down to prepare 

 it for digestion, it must be previously moistened. The 

 horse is fed in a stable on dry food. In the vicinity 

 of the mouth are placed the parotid and submaxillary 

 salivary glands, destined to secrete abundantly a 

 limpid fluid of a saltish taste. This fluid (estimated 

 to be secreted at the rate of eighty-four pounds in 

 twenty-four hours) is conducted into the mouth by 

 various ducts while the animal is chewing his food ; 

 and being mixed with it, assists in making it more 

 easily ground and conducted into the stomach, and 

 better prepared for digestion. 



Sometimes horses are afliicted with inflammation 

 of the stomach from having eaten poisonous plants, 

 although this is of rare occurrence. 



The deleterious plants of this country which affect 

 the horse are but few. The common hemlock, and 

 water-hemlock, which prove a deadly poison to many 

 other animals, are eaten with impunity by the horse. 



Water-parsley, if not eaten in too large quantities, 

 will not act as a poison ; but if much is consumed, will 

 produce palsy. 



Water-dropwort is poisonous, but is generally 

 rejected by horses ; although instances have occurred 

 of mares in foal having died from eating it. 



But of all the vegetable poisons, yew is the most 

 to be guarded against, as horses are very apt to 

 eat its leaves. When eaten it produces great sleepiness, 

 from which it is hardly possible to rouse the animal ; 



