146 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



be kept warm, crushed oats may be found advantageous, 

 but with every care it is often a matter of extreme difficulty 

 to either get the work out of them, or make them present- 

 able in appearance. 



Linseed is never necessary for a horse in health, though 

 it is frequently given to improve the skin and coat. It is 

 far too fattening to be used frequently ; working horses 

 should not be fat, and linseed should be reserved as a 

 hospital diet, or for those out of condition, and as an occa- 

 sional change in food if such is considered necessary. 



In winter it might be employed for horses leading a very 

 exposed life, to supply more fuel for body-heat. In the 

 form of linseed-oil poured over the food we have no opinion 

 of its utility. 



In the management of all horses, especially those used 

 for commercial purposes, constant supervision over the 

 feeding arrangements is necessary; the forage should be 

 inspected regularly, surprise visits paid to the stable, 

 measures checked and verified, mangers, nosebags, and 

 machinery looked into, even the faeces examined, and if 

 necessary washed for the purpose of inspection. A com- 

 plete police system is required, the smallest defective point 

 if gone into may be the means of revealing the most 

 astonishing irregularities. 



Every man should know what his horse is entitled to 

 receive, and amongst the stable instructions the diet sheet 

 should be prominent. 



These details and precautions, even what may appear to 

 be the most trifling and insignificant, are of the highest pos- 

 sible importance. Where forage is concerned nothing but 

 the eye of the person most interested will prevent fraud. 



In the stables of the wealthy the same supervision is 

 needed but never given ; the horses are crammed with food, 

 but they could not possibly eat all their master pays for. 

 If he is content to be robbed through ignorance or indiffer- 

 ence on his own part, that is a matter which concerns him 

 alone, but it is otherwise with public companies, or horses 

 the property of the State. 



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