West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-05-09
UnwhOlo5Ome Feeding.

There is no other part of the farm
work that is performed i'm such n per-
functory and careless manner as the
feeding of the stock. At one time the
food is given TO excess; at another il is
not sufficient; too often there is no reg
ularFy, and almost universally the
quality is Objectionable. Now, the di-
gestive organs of an animal are the
most delicate part of the system, and
tie digestive process is far more pre-
else and intricate than anything that
the chemist can perform in his labora-
tory. No work OF man can nearly APP
proach in its perfection the functions of
Il digestion, assimilation and nutrition i'm
tie stomach and intcstines. Indeed.
the closest and most patient researches
oil ANTAGONISTS and chemists have failed
to explain some of these functions. and
even the purposes and Offices of some
important organ connected with dipes-
ton and nutrition are partly or
wholly unknown-as, for instance, the
spleen and the pancreas-w we do
not yet completely understand the ac-
ton and effect of the liver, which is the
largest and most important of tho in
testinal organs. These facts tend to
show the great importance of a knowl-
edge, as lar as possible, of the whole
theory and science of feeding, and of
,he greatest carelulneSs i'm practice
but unfortunately few farmers make
even an attempt TO study this subject
aud the great majority quite ignore
IT The consequence is that animals
suIer from all sorts of dsca ses dde TO
'lsOrdered digestion and the rcsullino
impurities OF the blood, and the losses
of farmers, shepherds, and stock feeders
arc enormous, but yet almost entirely
preyentablc. The two most serious
causes of the trouble arc excessive feed
ing and the use OF unwholesome fodder.
Animals posse no restraining instinct
against overlooking; they cat as long
as they can, and will gorge themselves
with the most savOry food in the most
%luttonous manner. Therefore the
feeder should exercise n wise overs'ph
and prccaution i'm this respect. not only
to regulate the ration given rs TO duan-
tliy, but TO apportion the quality in
Such manner rs TO meet the actual
necessities Of the animal. As far /, re-
CARDS quantity. common sense indicates
That when an animal is so filled with
food that it can hold no more it has
eaten to dangerous excess. This cN-
cess OF food has the very opposite re-
suit from that desired by the feeder: the
dairy COW falls or i'm milk, or becomes
diseased and suffers with garge, or
mix lever: the calves are attacked by
biacNle@ or diarrhCa natures wav OF
getting rid of the excess pigs become
affected by staggcrs or nervous disorder
OF me spine which produces the cX-
cecdingIy common paralysis OF the hind
paris, and when the food is chiefly
fhst. tlr.
nation and fever OF the bowels. which
j, ihc true name Of the dreaded hog
cholera. And so this waste acrs both
ways for IL is waste of GOOD food tbot
., thrown away and waste Of valuable
stock which is destroyed bv the FIRST
waste and equally a. wastcful as plinr
up fodder against barn to burn tip The
grain that is stored i'm IL.
But worse yet remains TO bc told
a. regards the use Of unwho'c.ome
food. Recent investigations of iioloo
ISIS 90 20 show that the almost minnie
variety of fungi both visible and inv.
lbl', excepting by he aid Of the most
powerful microscopes. arc the most act.
Fo agents In The destruction of living
matter. a- well a- of dead organic sub
stances. Scarcely substance exist .
f.''.'.'''". I'f'I .t"AN' NNIIi'If lINf'N
and grows at its expense, and finally
destroys 10. Our knowledge of these
destructive agencies IS at present yer,
mc1Lcr but we know enough Of them
lo realize that they arc noNiou- iu thc
extreme Mods. mildews. ru-ts. smui..
rrgots and the invisible infu-ornl
growth generally called bacteria. and
known "a iufu-oria because oil their ap-
Icaranco tu infu-ionsOf organic matter.
'Wd tnc blood is precisely such lim.dl
aii lho-" act a~ poi-su- wh ch produce
800 cases OF tho most lafa. type because
.hoc germ and plants Increase with
uncomfortable rap.dity in tnc blood and
t- l"s of 1000 animal poisoned Dr. Them.
AnI N"I b. sac to s1y that -.aree'
any fodder grain fed to animals
Who ir.n from them. while D. far too
nany cases took IS supplied with food
'ro'u". rocking with these Gouecrou,
''ruu The subject i- ~ cOpiou- fo
pursue further at this time. but we can
l'i resist 'ho duty Of here pointing ont
Do danger ~ as To- awaken thought n
regard OH. Intending % refer a41in a.
tn. VITO mi orfant matter hereafter