252 VETERINAEY HYGIENE 



good proportion of salts, but the carbo-hydrate matter is 

 small and represented entirely by mucilage and sugar. 

 Given without any preparation it passes undigested through 

 the intestinal canal, owing to the hardness of the seeds. It 

 is best prepared by prolonged boiling by which a glutinous 

 or jelly-like mass is obtained. It may also be converted 

 into the same condition by long soaking in cold water, say 

 two or three days. Another method is to cover the seeds 

 with boiling water and allow them to stand until cool, this 

 does not remove the oil but simply swells and softens the 

 grains. 



Some farmers prefer to give linseed, treated as above, to 

 their fattening stock instead of cake. It has the great 

 advantage of knowing they are getting linseed and not 

 some inferior material. 



As a diet for sick animals it is very valuable on account 

 of its nutritious properties. For horses out of condition it 

 is a useful addition to the diet in small quantities, certainly 

 not exceeding 1 lb. a day. It is believed to have a good 

 effect upon the skin and coat, and in order to produce the 

 latter and also to help debilitated horses, small quantities 

 of the oil are frequently given. Experience seems to show 

 that this practice is nothing like so valuable as the ad- 

 ministration of linseed, so that it would appear much of 

 the value of the latter is due to the proteid as well as to 

 the oil. 



Linseed yields the following analysis : 



According to digestive experiments 75 per cent, of the 

 proteids, 52 per cent, of the fat, and 98 per cent, of the 

 carbo-hydrates are digested by the horse. The digestion 

 of ruminants is better, 90 per cent, of the fat being 

 absorbed. 



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