Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-10
HOW TO Gaze FOR HORSES

The European correspondent OF the
California Agriculturist writes from
Paris concerning the care Of horses as
follows:
To groom a horse well and keep the
stables sweet are much, but not all the
essentials: there is further demanded
an attention to the animals state of
health, noting when the horses cOndi-
ton requires artificial aids, and regula
ting his food according to his work.
Ordinarily, hay, straw and oats form
the regular dietary; but as man occ =
sionalIy requires tonIcs, and a more
generous nourishment according to his
work, so also does the horse. Hunters
generally receive a weekly warm mash,
consisting either Of bran, or better per-
haps, Of barley -four, containing ac-
cording to the temperament
Of the animal, sOme crushed
beans or hnseed. This mush
Is very grateful after hard run and
when the animal is wet, but must not
be given till an hour or two after the
horse has entered the stable. Carrots
CIT and mixed with the ratIOns Of oats
morning and evening, are refreshing,
but to feed horses constantly thus with
carrots mas been found in France to
effect the kidneys and enfeeble the an
imal. Horses employed for speed re-
ceive their hay only IN small portions
at time; this prevents a greed for
drinking and distension of the stOm-
acb. Not a few practical men trace
asthma and Wheeling TO this cause.
In the matter Of drinking, well water
Is most pernicious for horses, and the
longer the period that eiapses between
their drink and work, the better.
Horses with a tendency to gorge them
selves with hay or straw ought
10 be muzzled; this will check
plethora. The flooring on the
stable has much TO do with
conditions Of health. Asphelte flag
ging is the favorite pavement for sta
bles here, and which costs two and one
half francs the square yard. Twenty
two horses belonging to an artillery
regiment have been poisoned by eatln g
oldmusty hay; three of them died, and on
dissection the IntestIneSdlspiayed great
inhammatory LESSONS. Those saved had
received sudorifc drinks; diuretics and
purgatives, adding a little ether and
opium to the beverages to calm the
colics. Such poisoning Is not at all
rare among domestic animals, Occa-
STONED not only by mouldy hay, but
also from cats, pulp, etc, IN a similar
state. Farm bui -dings subjected to
humidity, or crops soured IN a wet sea-
son, too often present the danger IN
question. The remedy is easy; to
shake and beat well the affected forage,
watering it with a solution Of salt two
hours before using.
There IS much good sense and med
zeal skill in the above directions for the
management Of valuable horses. Paris
stands on lime rock, like Nashville,
and we invite attention to the state
ment that drinking well-water is most
pernicious to horses Cumberland
river water, from sandstone mountains,
is much better. There IS little spring
or well-waser in Middle Tennessee that
should be taken into the stomach OF
man or beast If pure raiG-water can be
had. The soils, subsoils and calcareOus
rocks of this basin, as the geologists
call Il, abound in soluble salts
which, when springs an6 wells are
lowest, give 70 the animal sgs,