A^nong Horses in India. 35 



sympathy to the liver, lessening the tendency to sluggish 

 action of that organ, which is frequently observable in the hot 

 weather. This want of activity, causing a diminished secre- 

 tion of bile, may be known by a disagreeable smell in the 

 dung, and may be corrected usually by a few bran-mashes. 



In the cold season when the horses are regularly worked, 

 a good bran-mash once a week, in place of the usual feed of 

 grain, is all that is required as a rule ; but in the hot season 

 it is a good custom to give bran daily mixed in the other 

 food. 



In stations where barley is cheaper than gram, it must, by 

 Government order, form part of the rations. In such places 

 the best food for the hot weather is a mixture of one sir of 

 bran with one and a half sirs each of barley and gram. I 

 am convinced from experience that a large proportion of bran 

 like this assists in preventing the tendency to itchy skin, 

 from which so many horses suffer. 



Indian bran, owing to the imperfect manner in which it is 

 dressed, is far more nutritious than English, containing a 

 considerable quantity of flour. It should always if possible 

 be procured from the Government bakery, whence the soldiers 

 are supplied with bread. That which is bought from the 

 contractors is apt to be greatly adulterated with husks of rice 

 or barley, and worse still, with fine sand. I have known this 

 carried to such an extent that the sand could be easily felt 

 when rubbing the bran between the fingers. Of course a 

 mixture of this kind is very injurious, wearing away the 

 teeth and frequently causing colic. 



Caeeots. 



Carrots, called gajar by the natives, are grown near many 

 of the large military stations, and though much smaller than 

 those of England, are good enough to form a beneficial change 

 to the horses, and should be given in quantities of one sir 

 daily to each. Unfortunately they do not come into season 

 until after the commencement of the cold weather. 



These and other variations from ordinary diet, such as 

 linseed, are readily procured at the market rates from the 



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