Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-03-18
Loss of Appetite in Horses.
Written for the "American Farmer" by
D,nn Y 8 Rnlfimnrn Md

DADD, V. s., Baltimore, nd.
Loss of appetite sometimes arises from
over exertion; occasionally it is the re-
suit of over-feeding or overcrowding the
stomach with food, thus impairing the
function of this organ. In such case the
stomach needs rest from its labors, and
cessation of appetite is the very best ac-
cident that could happen.
Should the appetite fail without any
assignable cause, change in the quality
or kind Of food might prove of benefit.
1t is well known that inferior may, cats,
&c. disgust the appetite and is uIprofita-
BILE fodder.
Young horses, while teething, often re-
fuse to masticate, in consequence of the
pain they suffer at this period, which is
then often attributed to "lampas." The
pain does not arise from "lampas," but
from the pressure on the dental nerve by
the fang of the tooth, and then instead of
burning the palate or bars Of the roof of
the mouth, the tooth or teeth, as the case
may be, should be liberated from their
Imprisonment by making q crucial incision
through the mucous membrane or gum.
The crown of the tooth being thus ex-
posed, relief is immediate; yet a loathing
of food may, for short time, exist, in
consequence of inhammatory or sympa-
thetic fever. In such case, the diet ought
to consist Of cooked food, composed of
boiled carrots, rice, oats; and hay tea
will serve as the best drink. Under this
treatment, the desire for ordinary diet,
uncooked, will soon return; but should
the mouth feel hot and appear infamed,
then keep bucket Of cold water before
the colt, so that he may cool his mouth
and quench thirst at the same time.
The appetite, when faulty, may be i'm
proved by giving, each morning, for a
week or ten days, two ounces of tincture
of gentian; the food to be of the best
quality and only little at time offered.
Should any remain in the manger, at the
period of the next feeding time, let it be
removed, and keep the patient hungry for
awhile, and see that cleanliness prevails
in the rack, manger and stall. 1t is Gus.
tomary in some stables to cram the filthy
straw, or whatever bedding may have
been used, under the manger, thus COM
pclling the animal to respire vapors which
must ultimately impair his health and
pcrvert the appetite. No wonder that
the appetite is "lost;," it is more wonder
full that it was not his life instead.
good and uniform appetite may be
very desirable, especially when the ami,
NAL is needed for constant hard work, yet
over-indulgencc leads to the high road of
disease and death. Some horses thrive
and work well on shorter sations than
others but the facts in the case do not
form any objection to the establishment
of fixed allowance, so that we take into
consideration age, size, the kind of work
demanded of the animal, and the capacity
of his digestive functions. In some sta
bles-say, containing from twenty to
fifty horses-there must exist diversity
in size, weight and digestive capacity;
hence some must require more food than
others, yet it often happens that the
+" tseelcr" serves all his equine guests alike
out of the same measure. In such es.
adjustments have often known disease
and death to run riot.
A great proportion of the diseases oc-
curing among both men and horses owe
their exciting, if not direct cause, to over
taxing the stomach thus it is said that
some men dig their graves with their
teeth" and the carcase of the equine Of
ten brings up at the glue factory from
similar cause; therefore loss of appetite
is not always so deplorable an event as
some persons might suppose. The evil
consequences of overfeeding are not al
ways apparent; sometimes they are so
insidious as to escape notice, yet disorder
is almost sure, sooner or later, to occur.
A horse when standing idle in the stable
for day or more, is almost sure to get
more food than he needs. This creates,
often, morbid appetite. The best way
of correcting this is to dip lighter hand
in the meal bag, or, if the season permits,
prescribe short run at grass, which will
not only benefit the animal, but prevent
a great waste of food.
VaJup of Way. Corn