73 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 



the digestion, may ensue ; followed, perhaps, by colic, or 

 even by rupture of the stomach, owing to the pressure 

 exerted by the evolved gas. Hence, we may conclude 

 that the horse should be watered heforc being fed. But if, 

 as in case of want of time, this precaution has not been 

 observed, only small quantities, with reasonable intervals 

 to allow of its absorption, should be allowed ; say 10 "go 

 downs" at intervals of five minutes, assuming 20 "go 

 downs" to the gallon. Considering the quickness with 

 which a horse digests his food, I think we may assume 

 that he may be watered 2 J hours after being fed, without 

 any ill consequences. The reason that soft is better than 

 hard water for horses — a fact known to every careful 

 stableman — is that the freer this fluid is of impurities 

 which possess astringent properties, the more readily will 

 it become absorbed into the blood. 



Eespecting the celerity with which water is assimilated, 

 I cannot do better than quote the following extract from 

 Seller and Stephens' " Physiology of the Farm " : — " That 

 water passes with extreme rapidity from the stomach of 

 the horse, as from that of mammals in general, is apparent 

 from the well-known fact that a horse will drink within 

 a few minutes a much greater quantity than his stomach 

 can contain. It is commonly supposed that the excess 

 passes at once into the highest parts of the small intestines, 

 namely, the duodenum. But this supposition is hardly 

 necessary, for it is proved that absorption of thin fluids 

 takes place from the inner surface of the stomach with an 

 almost incredible rapidity. The fact is established by 

 many experiments; and moreover, that substances dis- 

 solved in the water taken in have been found in the urine 



