MR DICK ON COOKING FOOD FOR HORSES. 
697 
that places what I have advanced beyond a doubt. The Cold¬ 
stream East Indiaman, before leaving Calcutta, took on board, as 
is usual, a number of poultry, which were put up in the hen¬ 
coops, and plenty of barley given them. Soon after getting to 
sea, it was found that they became sickly, got poor, although 
their crop was filled, and before reaching Madras forty dozen 
had died. A fresh supply was taken on board, and ere they had 
been long at sea, they also began to fall off and die in the same 
manner. The loss of what was to serve for fresh provisions now 
excited serious attention, and the surgeon, by repeated dissec¬ 
tions, discovered that they had all died with their crop and giz¬ 
zard full of whole barley : and from this it at once occurred that 
the fowls, being put up in their coops, and not having been allow¬ 
ed any sand or gravel to grind down the food, were thus prevented 
from deriving nourishment from it; but how to get sand or gravel 
at sea, in an ocean of unfathomable depth, was a matter of some 
difficulty, and it was only after a long search in the hold that a 
stone was found, which being broken down and given to the 
fowls, they soon began to recruit, and recovered their health and 
strength. I therefore conclude, that before the food can pro¬ 
perly yield nourishment to the animal, it is necessary that it be 
minutely broken down and cooked, either naturally or artificially ; 
this must be done before digestion can take place : and I further 
conclude, that the more completely we do this, the more readily and 
completely will the nutritious portions which the food contains be 
taken into the system, and thus, by avoiding almost the possi¬ 
bility of waste, the animal will be supported in the same condition, 
at a less cost to the owner. 
A considerable time has elapsed since the practice of cutting 
hay and straw and bruising oats was first recommended ; but it 
has never as yet been, in my opinion, sufficiently practised, and 
the benefits of it have not been sufficiently appreciated. Some 
cannot see the advantages to be derived from such a practice; 
some will not take trouble; some find their men will not attend 
to it; some think their horses wont eat it; some think they wont 
thrive; and some are afraid it wont agree with them, and that horses 
will purge and get soft, if they are so fed. These, however, are 
all imaginary evils, which a fair trial would soon dispel. 
Mr. Croal, the extensive and spirited coach proprietor, informs 
me, that he finds by cutting his hay he requires to give only 81b. 
per day, along with 161b. of oats, and his horses are in excellent 
condition ; and he observes, that it is a saving in his establish¬ 
ment of about £lo0 per annum. 
Mr. Isaac Scott, whose experience on turf affairs entitles his 
opinion to considerable deference, allows his post and job horses, 
