MOLASSES AS A FOOD FOR ARMY HORSES. 
895 
tail of enlisted men in charge of Farrier Pagoda, of Troop F, 
5th Cavalry. 
On the appointed day the eight horses were weighed, pulse, 
temperature, respiration, secretions, etc., noted and recorded, 
also the condition of the teeth and general health, all of which 
were normal ; selection of horses was made without discrimina¬ 
tion, except that of the two private horses, one of which be¬ 
longed to the adjutant of the regiment, the other to ourselves. 
Commencing with the morning feed on January 1st, the oats 
ration was gradually decreased, and grass substituted at the rate 
of three pounds of grass for one of oats. Commencing on the 
4th, the hay ration was gradually diminished and its place sup¬ 
plied with grass at the rate of two pounds of grass for one of 
hay. On the 6th, in addition to the grass, now amounting to 
twenty-one pounds a day (chopped), there was added, mixed 
therewith, three pounds of molasses. The hay and oats were 
partaken of eagerly, also the fresh grass, but that mixed with 
the molasses was absolutely refused, except by horse No. 2, 
which was very fond of candy or sugar. He, however, ap¬ 
peared to have trouble in its mastication, when it struck us that 
the molasses was not sufficiently diluted. At the next feed 25 
per cent, of water was added to the molasses, when five of the 
animals commenced to eat gingerly. By the tenth of the month 
all of the horses were eating thirty-five pounds of grass and four¬ 
teen pounds of molasses daily, without the addition of any other 
feed whatsoever. 
From the 7th to the 18th each horse lost in weight from 25 
pounds in the case of No. 2 to 32 pounds in the case of No. 5. 
Contrary to expectations there was no relaxation of the bowels 
noticed ; in fact, at a late period bran had to be given to over¬ 
come a partially constipated condition in all of the subjects ; 
urine was clear and secreted in greater quantity than usual, but 
on test for sugar no reaction could be observed. 
During this time each animal was doing the usual routine 
work of the garrison—drills, parades, scouts, horse exercise and 
patrols, amounting in all to about five or six miles a day. 
