Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-10-10
Horse Biscuits,

The Prussian military administration
after the close OF the Franco German war
established at great expense an expert
mental station at Nancy for the army OF
occupation. designed for making trials,
technically and scientifically, In regard to
foods which may be used by troops q a
general way or under particularly difficult
circumstances. The direction of the fac
tory created with this intention was con-
fided to NJ. Gustave Warnecke, of Frank
fort-on-Main.
| In the different manufactures and exper-
iments that were made there. special at
tention was paid TO the alimentation of
horses, since these animals had been Of
such decisive importance in the different
periods In the war Of lS70-7l.
Alter long and laborious groupings In the
| dark, Warnoekc's biscuits for horses
were finally produced. These. after a
very severe trial on large proportion Of
the horses belonging to the army of occu-
patton. are admitted to be great success.
The "biscuit for horses" or, as 1t has
been also called. the 'oat comfit." con-
sists of 80 parts OF oat -four, 30 parts of
''dextrinated' pea meal. 80 parts of rye
flour. and 10 parts OF linseed meal or. 40
parts OF Cat flour. 10 parts OF dextrinated
pea meal, and 20 parts OF linseed meal or,
10 parts OF pea meal, 20 parts of wheat
hour, 70 parts OF corn meal, 20 parts of rye
hour, 10 parts Of grated bread. and 10
parts OF linseed meal or, fnally, other au-
alogous mixtures.
As the result OF minute experiments IL
Is stated that 4 pounds OF these mixtures,
well cooked, possess nutritive value
equal to that OF a large ration OF oats OF
about three times the weight. SO the
Prusslan administration of the army Of
the cavalry officers aud the veterinary sur
geons as basis, admits that 5 l-2 pounds
of "oat comfts" are worth II pounds OF
oats. Experiments also demonstrated
that horses fed on l2 pounds of oats did
not support the fatigue TO which they are
submitted so well as those that received
the l-2 pounds OF comfits.
result so brilliant, and one so favora-
Bile TO the rapid movements of cavalry,
could not remain ignored by other great
military powers. The inventor, called to
ST. Petersburg. manufactured in that city.
according TO the above formulas ten thou
sand ratlons of horse biscuits, which were
submitted. In the cavalry and the Cossacks
OF the Guard. to experiments still more
minute than those OF the PrussIau army
The horses were fed on the biscuits during
twenty-six days (in Prussia ten days only;)
state. plumpncss. and weight OF the horses,
and their strength tested with the dyna-
mometer. The superiority OF the com
fits over oats "a third OF which are undi-
gested and lost in the dung heap was so
marked that they were adopted not only
In Imitation of Prussia, as an exceptional
recourse for times of war, but also as a
steady food In time OF peace. The best
recommendation that the new invention
possesses is that the troops eat more OF the
biscuits than the horses. To put an end to
this practice the Prussisn administration
was obliged TO order i've per cent. of lupn
Hour 10 be mixed with the materials OF the
biscuit
a ration Ia, as has already been stated.
about IL pounds; it comprises from 25
To 80 biscuits Of from 10 ) inches 10 d.
ameter By four tenths of an inch Ia thick
ness. These biscuits, strung on wire, can
or orraaagr,' auu d Irdi s-a.aa ezra, vasuy
carry nourisbment enough TO last him four
or five days. They are given, either dry
or wet (aiter having been broken up,) at
the rate OF ! in the morning, IL at noon.
and In the evening.