FEEDING. 103 



a valuable mixture, more healthy and not open to the 

 objection of the Ji^'st year's cut, which has little timothy 

 in it. The great value of clover, as well as other varieties 

 of hay depends upon the time of cutting, and the manner 

 in which it has been prepared for the barn or stack. 



Bran is the skin or husk of grain, especially of wheat, 

 when ground and separated by the bolter or sieve. When 

 fed to animals, it is laxative, and for this purpose it is fed 

 to horses at stated times as a mash. This is a custom in- 

 troduced into the American stable from Europe, and which 

 we and our horses can do very well without, as the injury 

 we have seen done by feeding bran to horses that positively 

 required a more substantial feed is very great. The theory 

 that introduces bran into the horse stable, is as pernicious 

 in its effects as the indiscriminate use of bran itself at the 

 whim of the stablemen. This theory is, that every sick 

 or tired horse must be fed upon bran-mashes. 



Horsemen have not yet learned that most diseases of the 

 horse are characterized by a weak or typhoid condition, 

 and not by inflammatory action. Hence, it is injurious to 

 the horse to have his bowels loosened or blood drawn, as 

 he requires tonics and stimulants, with sound and substan- 

 tial food. Unlock the bowels of a horse laboring under 

 inflammatory disease even, and they will not stop till death 

 puts an end to his sufferings. Feed a healthy grain-fed 

 horse for from two to four days upon hay and bran, and 

 the animal will swell either on the breast, along the belly, 

 sheath or all four legs ; and sometimes all can be seen swol- 



