The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-01-05

One OF the best agents IN keeping the
horse in condition is water. 1t is too
commonly the practice to feed thirsty
horse first, watering him afterwards.
The stupid groom has learned that
horses will usually drink more freely
after feeding than before, hence he rea-
sons that the horse should have water
given him at the period when he will
take the most. 1t saves trouble, too, If
water is given at the time when most
will be taken, for if horse requires
two pai!fuls in day, and will take this
amount at one drink, the attendant rea-
sons that he may as well take it at once
and have it over with. While it is
proper to give the horse access to water
while at his meal, upon plan we will
refer to farther on, still, permitting q
gorge of cold water to be taken into the
stomach upon full ration of grain and
hay, in measure interrupts digestion,
by distending and chilling the stomach,
diluting the gastric juice in too great .
degree at the same time.
Cold water taken before eating acts
as tonic, in the same manner that GO
ing from warm room into a frosty at
mosphere acts as an invigorator upon
the whole system of man and beast
alike. 1t is well known that hot water
applied to the surface relaxes the It's
sues, while cold water used in the same
manner constringes, braces up and
gives tone. Hence it will be readily
seen, that as the effect is quite alike
upon all the tissues. the drinking Of .
large amount of warm water before
meal would relax the coats of the
stomach, rendering its coats flabby,
hence in condition the opposite of that
likely to give rise to an appetite for
food. Therefore it is correct to give
the horse cool water before feeding
him. 1t is q better plan to keep water
within reach of the horse at all times.
By adopting this rule the animal will
at mo time take enough TO chill the
stomach, so to speak, but will, while
eating his grain and hay, take just
enough to moisten the dry food, greatly
promoting digestion thereby.
A regular and continuous supply OF
water Is required, that the stomach and
small intestines be not required to
throw out too abundantly of fluids to
counterfeit the binding nature of large
ration OF dry feed taken suddenly into
the system. This = also required so
that the refuse portions of food taken
may pass moro readily along the
alimentary canal, the water keeping the
faces in duly softened condition. thus
aiding In counteracting tendency to
| hardened fwces, and consequent con-
stipation, well known to be damaging
| to the spirits. and to the energy, as
well as to the enduring qualities Of the
horse. When . large amount Of water
| is taken after eating full meal, diges-
ton is in q great measure suspended
until the bulk of this water il disposed
of, which is done mainly through .
slow process called endosmose, which,
plainly rendered. means the passage
of the superintendent water directly
through the coats Of the stomach.
which are, very fortunately for such
emergencies, to . degree porous.
What Of the excess does not escape in
this way il hurried out by the route
which the food takes in advance Of the
latter. It is true Of the digestion Of
| food as of the maceration and dissolv-
| ing Of substances outside Of the diges-
tive organs and Of the body, chat
warmth favors, and : cold solvent
agent retards the process in either case.
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