516 



On Mismanagement of Farm- Horses, 



in the food of adults substances of each class are naturally 

 juicgled. Animals restricted exclusively to azotized food soon 

 become unhealthy, and die from the want of fuel to support the 

 animal heat ; while, on the other hand, those fed on non-azotized 

 food, as pure starch, gum, or sugar, die in a very short space of 

 time ; dogs, for instance, in about thirty days. In such cases 

 death occurs in about the same time^, is preceded by very similar 

 symptoms, and produced much in the same way as when no food 

 whatever is given. After confining an animal for some days to 

 such food, the nutrition of the body is so disturbed, and the 

 powers of life so depressed, that death speedily occurs ; nor after a 

 certain time will the substitution of a sufficient diet be of any avail. 

 The injurious consequences of too highly azotized food are 

 seldom or never seen amongst farm-horses, their food rarely con- 

 taining, for any length of time, an excessive proportion of azotized 

 matters. The injurious effecis of an inadequate proportion of 

 these are, hov/ever, of frequent occurrence; and food is more 

 often insufficient in this respect than from being defective in ab- 

 solute bulk. The proportion in which the azotized and non- 

 azotized elements should exist in the food of horses employed for 

 ordinary farm-w^ork should be one of the former to five or six of 

 the latter. This proportion of nitrogenous principles is somewhat 

 less than that necessary for man, and somewhat greater than is 

 generally present in the food either of cattle or sheep. It wili^ 

 however^ be found to be the proportion in which these two sorts 

 of alimentary principles are present in all well-ordered dietaries 

 for the horse. In some circumstances it may, without detriment, 

 be slightly altered. Thus, horses whose work is light will main- 

 tain their condition on a somewhat less proportion of nitrogenous 

 principles than that above stated ; while those, on the other hand, 

 whose labour is severe and long continued, require a still larger 

 allowance. Young animals, from the rapid growth of all their 

 tissues, also require, for healthy existence, a larger proportion of 

 nitrogenous principles than adults ; and we accordingly find these 

 principles forming nearly one half of the solid ingredients of all 

 sorts of milk. 



id) With reference to man, as well as to the domesticated ani- 

 mals, errors of diet are common^ and often attended by serious 

 evil consequences. Numerous facts and statistics, published 

 during the last few years, show that the continuance of a deficient 

 or improper diet inevitably produces sickness and mortality, and 

 this has been especially oljserved among the lower classes of the 

 community. The recorded rates of mortality in years of famine 

 are always far above the average, and always bear a very close rela- 

 tion to the price and abundance of food, and especially of wheat.* 



* Statistical Journal for June, 1846 — Paper by Mr. Farr on the Influence of 



