MR. DICK ON THE COOKING OF FOOD FOR HORSES. 685 
one time, as indeed is almost invariably the case, for stable-men, 
when they give boiled food, always suppose it necessary, at least 
the practice is, to give nearly double the quantity or more at a 
time that they would think it proper to give of raw food ; but if 
the rich cooked stewed food is mixed with a less nutritious and 
raw material, the whole of the boiled is taken into the system, 
without producing the laxative effect. Nay, more, it sometimes 
proves, in cases of horses which have a natural tendency to purge, 
that by a judicious use of soft feeding this is overcome. Captain 
Cheyne has a grey horse of this kind, and it was feared that he 
would not agree with the feeding; but it is found he now does 
his work better than ever he did, and with less tendency to a 
laxity of the bowels than formerly; and when I saw him a few 
days ago, he was as fat on the rib as any horse in working con¬ 
dition ought to be. 
All horses on this restricted feeding are found to be light in 
their belly; but while this is the case, the appearance of their 
coats, the quantity of fat on their ribs, and the manner they are 
able to do their work, shew that they have sufficient nourish¬ 
ment, while (what is the subject of the most important con¬ 
sideration with me) their dispensing with the doctor, shews that 
their health is most materially improved by it. In conclusion, I 
shall only at present mention, that as I was passing Mr. Croaks 
office, two or three days ago, and observing a pair of horses, as 
fresh as racers, in one of the pair-horse-coaches, he observed, 
what was worthy of notice, “ There’s condition- for you,” and, 
pointing to about two bushels of oats and cut hay on the coach, 
“ this is their allowance for the night, and which is sent out re¬ 
gularly every day to the out-stages.” 
If such, then, is the fact with regard to horses doing fast work, 
the advantages which might be obtained by a similar plan being 
adopted amongst farm-horses must be too obvious to require 
further argument. 
CASES OF FISTULOUS WITHERS TREATED BY 
PRESSURE. 
By Mr . Alex. Gray, V.S ., Edinburgh . 
Gentlemen, 
If you deem the following cases of poll-evil worthy a corner 
of The Veterinarian, it would not only be gratifying to 
me, but in my opinion would forward the cause of humanity 
towards our suffering and uncomplaining patients. The method 
of cure recommended by almost every author is the scalding 
VOL. v. 4 z 
