National Republican., 1884-12-06
TREATMENT OF HORSES.
Care Must bo Observed in Feeding
Them, and They Must Not be Dos,d
for Every Indication OF Disturbed

Care Must bo Observed in Feeding
Them, and They Must Not be Dos,d
for Every Indication OF Disturbed
Digestion.
II is an error 20 suppose that the horse
can bo fed with discretion or without, as
one plesses, tho result being tho same. IL
is equally an error. says an exchange, to
dose tho horse for every indication of dis
turbed digestion. There are peculiarities
Of structure, aud hence variations in func-
tional manifestation; each horse, like each
person, having those differences marked
by strong lines. Those difference require
to be needed, as no success will attend
any attempt to set up q new standard.
VIII en- indigestion is assured then fer
mentation begins, because food cannot
Ion 4 remain in so warm and moist o place
as the stomach and bowels Of q living
beast without fermentation following.
Skill is required TO feed horse, exposed
daily to hard driving or labor, in such
manner as always to secure immunity
from some one or moro of the evidences
of indigestion. With some horses long
continued use OF ono kind Of grain, or
Of ground feed, will create disturbances
within; gas being generated freely and
the bowels becoming bound up. Food
cannot be given to tho horse as grain is
shovolod into the hopper, that is not to
tho average horse, for only u very few
have such vigorous digestion that they
assimilato all tho stomach will contain.
Such as may havo inherited this excop-
ton al kind Of digestive forco will part
with IL little by little II tho organs in
volved are repeatedly abused. The fact
is not generally we'll understood that
active exercise after feeding retards the
digestive process. 1t Is q law of system,
whether OF tho horse or other ami
mails, that all the functions of the body
cannot 20 on in full force at the same
time. Evon tolerably active exercise
after eating will dotract from tho stom-
ach's force, though tho increased demand
upon the circulation and nervous force of
the heart and muscular system, and
prompt action upon tho food eaten docs
not take place, hence fermentation
follows, the horse showing dullness,
sweating easily, and the breathing 10 dis
turbod Upon lis being sharply driven or
required to pull hard. Gas is expelled
from tho stomach, and, later, from the
bowels. The animal has less thirst than
usual, drops his head and looks detected
upon coming in from work. Ho takes his
food without zest. When in this condi
tion 1t would be unwise to put the animal
upon full feed, because the stomach II
already laboring at its unfinished task
and then again because an exhaustive
state from recent labor 10 incompatible,
with active digestion. The state of th'
parts involved is not merely functiona
disturbance with no change made in thu
appearance Of the parts. On the othei
hand, an irritated state is set up, NOR,
than the usual amount of blood beinI
sent to tho organs involved. This exces
may be but temporary. If 80, and 1t ha
not often been repeated, then no mari
upon the mucous lining of tho stomach
has been mado. II Of frequent occurrenc,
then the turgid state Of the blood vessel
Of the part will pass into permanentl, ,
Redeemed state, the natural result Of ex
cessive determination of blood. TheI
follows habitual indigestion, more or les
aggravated, and horse In this condition
is in very unsafe hands when handled il
an ordinary way, that Is. with an at
tendant having permission to feed as b.
likes and work the animal alongside
mate in good health. A horse whom IL
this disordered condition will be quit
likely to eat nearly his usual ration, ant
ne Will AZ the same time 10 MS Dest y
keep up his end at work, though it b
! done in spiritless manner. The mos
effective remedy in case of this kind 4
simply rest. This IL the panacea givel
to the horse when he returns at nigh
from his work. Any rule relating t
tired muscles applies with q like force I
q tired stomach. Nearly all horses Wi
eat to excess II allowed to do SO, whil
there are but few that arc SO spirited O
to ovorwork from choice. Indigel
tion may be confined to on
part of the viscera. or 1t ma
. be diffused. Nature seldom makes Dol
or sharp lines. The trouble is general
accompanied by cold surface, or at leas
) the tendency Is that way, in any but tn
warmest weather, and the legs are ais
! inclined to be cold. This condition {
the circulation aggravates the trouble
sending the blood unduly to the stomac
and bowels and the circulation should
invited to the surface and legs by the US
: of blanket and rubbing. Corn shoul
) not be fed, but oats and clean hay il
stead, with an occasional mash of groun
feed.
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