The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-02
On Feeding Horses,

On Feeding Horses.
Benjamin Franklin has said thai
'Experience keeps dear school, but
fools will learn in no other" This ii
indeed very true, yet Notwithstanding,
we go on from day to day, paying dear.
~ for our experience. Thousands Q.
horses and cattle are lost annually by
1njudicious modes of feeding which q
little care or forethought OF attention
to the warnings Of experience would
have averted. Physicians tell lis that
all sudden changes in our diet and
modes of living are more OF less inju.,
rious and often dangerous. This is the
result OF experience, yet we pay very
little attention to it. They calculate
with a good deal Of certainty that it,
the autumn months they will have
plenty of practice OH diarrhea, dysen>
terry, cholera morbus, etc. Again in
the Spring months diseases Of the
chest, and lungs, and throat, will pres
vail, and SO Oh. Yet the great masses
of mankind take no heed whatcver.-
The consequences arc often sad to con-
template, yet we still blindly and il.
norantly travel OH.
We have reason to believe that amir
mails in the state OF nature arc not
much troubled with discasc-their in.
stincts teach them to avoid improper
food and excess, but the case is vcrv
different when they become subservi-
ent to man. During. my practice and
experience as a veterinary surgeon, I
have been curious to note the Intimate
connection Of cause and effect in the
matter of feeding horses. | have OBJ
served that when we begin to feed with
new hay, new oats, new corn (morc es-
pecially) we have a great number Of.
cases of diseases OF the stomach and
bowels in the form Of tympanites, GAS
tritis, inflammation Of the bowels, collie,
staggers, dysentcry, ETC., etc. Now ali
this catalogue Of serious diseases is
mostly brought on by improper feed
ing and management in other respects.
That thousands Of horses and cattle ara
lost annually by these diseases alone,
no one can deny.
Those who raise considerable
mount Of live stock will do we'll to
attend to the following hints. 2umin-
ating animals (those who chow heir
cudD merely crop their food in the first
instance and it passes into the rumen
or paunch and is lfterward -eturnod
to the mouth and masticatcd at'their
leisure. It will be observed that COWS
and oxen chew their cud when at rest.
This is natural and necessary require
ment. The food is thereby Intimately
mixed with the saliva, which, with
the gastric juice, is essential to the
elimination of nutriment. Think, then,
of the evil of putting yoke Of cattle
to hard work Immediately after feed
ing.
The horse, however, is differently
constituted; his stomach is (taking his
size into consideration very small
admirably adapted to his motion of
speed and those who are most expo
rienced in the care of horses, and who
require fast work, are very careful as
to- their mode of feeding. Horses
trained for racing and trotting get very
little hay, and the same rule applies to
well-conducted livery and omnibus
stables. This is the result of expert
ence. Let us then take lesson from
them; it will be useful.
In European countries the horses
which are used for agricultural pur-
poses are Of a heavy, pondcrous build,
in general well adapted for slow work;
and it is the custom to drive them at q
slow, even, pace, and cut feed is very
generally adopted with advantage
The American farmer is, however, diff
ferently circumstanced he wants his
horse for general purposes, and has as
much fast as slow work, and, as rule,
it would be we'll to avoid feeding or
watering horses either Immediately be-
fore or Immediately after meals. Give
them little time after feeding and let
them grind their own food. If you
change their food do it gradually, mix
old and new hay together for while
in the commencement; the same With
new oats.-A. T. WILSON, Y. S.