FOOD 243 



intestinal canal ; hence the danger of calculus in bran-fed 

 horses (p. 161). 



Bran may be regarded as a good example of a food where 

 analysis and practical experience are at variance. As a 

 food it is useless in spite of its chemical composition ; as a 

 useful adjunct it is undeniably valuable, bringing about a 

 general laxative effect on the bowels which is very desirable 

 especially where grain forms a large part of the diet. The 

 laxative effect is believed to be due to the mechanical 

 stimulation of the bran, but the point is by no means 

 settled. 



As an article of sick diet it is most valuable, and the 

 practice in all well-regulated stables of giving bran once 

 a week in the form of a mash is attended by the best 

 results. 



To produce a laxative effect bran should be mixed with 

 water, in fact, a mash made of it ; it is best made with 

 boiling water and covered up until cool enough to eat. In 

 the dry state it is generally believed to have a constipating 

 effect, and it is frequently given dry to horses liable to 

 ' scour,' in order to control this tendency. 



It is a good food for milch cows, and is found to improve 

 the quality of the milk and butter. 



Bran should have a pleasant odour, a yellowish tint, and 

 be free from dust and dirt. When rubbed between the 

 hands it should slightly whiten them from the flour it con- 

 tains. It may be adulterated with sand or sawdust ; the best 

 test for the former is to put it in water, when the sand falls 

 to the bottom. 



Bran only keeps sweet a short time, it rapidly absorbs 

 moisture, turns sour, becomes caked in masses, and quite 

 unfit for food. 



The daily amount of bran given may be 2 lbs. more or less 

 depending on the work, but bearing in mind that it possesses 

 no nutritive properties, the interior should not be burdened 

 with it unnecessarily. 



Large mashes of bran are liable to give rise to colic, and 

 even ruptured stomach, from the fermentation which occurs 



16—2 



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