The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-24
Watering Horses in Summer.

It is sometimes said that veterinary SCI
ence has not advanced. The proper treat
ment of human beings under sickness or
disease is better understood than it was in
the past age, but the proper treatment of
animals is little better known now than it
ever was. After all, this is to be expected.
We can tell all our feelings Sand explain
our wants but animals are dumb, and we
can only learn by careful watching, and
then but imperfectly, what is really the
matter with them. Life, however, has
very much in common. Food, whether
solid or LIQUID, in some form sustains all
animal life, and whatever in a general way
the lower animals.
Perhaps little may thus be learned
from human experience in regard to the
proper watering of horses. That they get
much too little in hot weather, and thus
suffer terribly at times, has long been the
opinion of rejecting men; but the almost
solid opinion of those more continually in
relation with the horse, that the present
manner Of treating them is right, has
frightened those from opening their lips
who have long been convinced of the ira
tonality Of the prevalent treatment.
We know how it has been with our
selves. Those of us who have had expert
ence with large bodies Of workinglnen,
either in the field or ON public works,
know that half century ago cold water
was regarded as death if taken when warm.
Tea, milk, whiskey or rum anything but
cold water-was to be drunk when heated.
1t was bad time for the temperance folks.
But now the idea has changed. In the
harvest and hay fields, and in the heavy
labor of grading and railroading, water is
the universal drink, and no stint is
required. The laborers drink as much
as they like, as hot as they may be
and are better in health and better
for Ework than they ever were in thu
old liquoring days. So with people whs
do not work in the fields, and with whom
perspiration seldom amounts to more thai
vague idea that 1T is very hot.' Ice
creams and ice-waters are by no means thu
dreaded things they were half century
ago. Why may not horse-treatment in tn
way of watering be improved on as well a
the treatment Of human bodies? Th
writer of this has always insisted that hi
horses should have water when they need
ed it whether they were warm or not
They have been treated in the same wa,
that he would treat himself in this regard
and with evidently the best results.
Possibly the first suggestion, that tn
prevailing dread Of watering horses Will
warm was entirely too rigid, appeared, j
the Weekly Press some few years ago. Tn
agricultural journals have had little to sa
about it, however; but recently two of tn
leading ones, the Country Gentleman, c
Albany, and the Prairie Farmer, have ha
articles taking similar ground to our owr
They say truly that an immense amount
suffering is no doubt annually inflicted o
the poor dumb beasts by the horror I
watering which so widely prevails. III
Prairie Farmer contrasts the experience
every farmer, who, in these days, in Il
hot field, knows what "dreadful punisl
ment it is to work half an hour witho,
water, without whose cooling and refresl
ing influences he would be unable to col
tnue his work, !" with that of the horse b
side him, which has often TO go on {
hours without it, simply "becsuse he
warm"