COOKED FOODS. 191 



the horse, advocates the use of cooked foods. 

 Some years ago I tried them on a mare which 

 I could not get into as good condition as I 

 wished, and I can certainly, and with the greatest 

 confidence, speak to the very excellent results 

 which followed the adoption of his advice. Never 

 was a change more rapidly or completely effected 

 for the better. She at once began putting on 

 good firm flesh, and certainly no horse could have 

 possibly been more fit to go, or looked in higher 

 condition, than she did in the course of a very 

 few weeks, and she carried me brilliantly through 

 the rest of the season. Despite this fitness, her 

 dung was always loose — so much so as to be an 

 annoyance, especially in the hunting field. I did 

 not, therefore, continue its use, although con- 

 vinced of its efficiency. I prepared it in the fol- 

 lowing way in a very large fish-kettle, which I had 

 constructed for the purpose, viz. : nearly all her 

 food for the following day was put into the kettle, 

 and boiling water poured over it in just sufficient 

 quantity as to be completely absorbed, and the whole 

 wrapped round with a couple of rugs. Whatever 

 was left over was thrown away, so as to prevent 

 its becoming stale (and such a preparation very 

 quickly ferments), and fresh substituted. The 

 reader can of course try this plan for himself if he 



