LESSON FORTY-SIX 
KEEPING ANIMALS HEALTHY 
1. Health.—Under normal conditions health is natural. 
And unless health is generally maintained, it will be im- 
possible to succeed in any branch of live stock. The 
object of every stockman should be to keep his animals 
in such vigorous condition that they will thrive and pro- 
duce their marketable products with the greatest profit. 
The majority of failures in stock raising is due to neglect 
or disobedience of those natural laws upon which normal 
conditions of health depend. 
It is more important to understand the laws of thrift and vigor 
than to know about dopes and remedies. Our greatest stockmen 
seldom have to deal with disease in their establishments, except at 
times of community affliction and epidemics. Even then the fault 
is usually due to a thoughtless outsider, to dogs, birds, water, or to 
some other condition not under the control of the victims. Animals 
may be considered to be in health when they have smooth, glossy 
coats, are quick and active in their movements, have good appetites, 
do their regular work without difficulty or distress and when the 
organs of the body act in a normal way. 
2. Fresh air.—Until costly and tightly closed barns 
were built by thoughtless and ignorant men of wealth, 
FREE EXERCISE IN THE OPEN AIR OF THE PASTURE 
488 
