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They probably require a change in diet, or else they are confirmed dyspeptics, laboring under a chronic form of indigestion, and if such should be the case, quantity is objectionable, and good quality more desirable; the stomach, however, is not at fault, its function being deranged. Or they probably get enough, and perhaps too much for a weak stomach, hence loss of flesh, &c.

Some men are in the habit of bleeding their horses every spring; this is done in view of reducing fat and flesh, the subjects being humory, plethoric; their systems abounding in highly carbonized blood, and this is proof positive that the same have been over-fed. The racer, before he can perform a feat of speed, must be prepared, as the saying is; this implies bleeding and physicing. Some works on Farriery lay down regular rules for putting a horse in racing condition, and the remedies are fleam, physic and bran, proof positive that such animals have had too bounteous a supply of nutriment.

Some horses, and the same is true of man, grow poor in consequence of having to carry about a juvenile resturant, within their digestive organs, they probably become exhausted, or plethoric, as the case may be, in consequence of an over-burthened stomach. A stomach over-burthened, reacts on the nervous system, deranges the physiological condition of the subject, and lays the foundation for hypertrophy, (which is an abnormal increase of fat or tissue) or the opposite, which condition is known as atrophy-a wasting of the same. But most frequently an overburdened stomach induces diseases known as staggers, cerebral congestion, softening of brain, &c., &c.

Many horse owners are continually devising means to excite the appetite of their horses, in order to get as much food as possible into their stomachs; they seem so think that an error in this direction can never occur, and should the same refuse to consume the abundance placed before them, the liberal individual complains that his horse has a poor appetite, and does not eat "worth a cent.” Now it were far better for both man and horse, if the former would only experiment in the opposite direction, and ascertain how small a quantity a horse may subsist on. A small quantity of good food, well digested, answers the purpose of nutrition much better than a large quantity, imperfectly so. It is very interesting to contemplate how efficient a little food proves, for the promotion of health and longevity. For example, a little barley and coarse fodder, will suffice for the "Courser of the Desert." Shetland and Welch ponies will live and grow fat on the mere vestiges of vegetation. The best cow in the world, the property of J. H. Kelly, of Cleveland, Ohio, weighing 1350 pounds, is fed exclusively on hay and straw-very poor fodder, some may exclaim, yet in the course of ten months the same creature yielded 4,921 quarts of milk; and during a single month, after calving, she gave 620 quarts, and the least she gave during the winter months was 562 quarts.

A pig will grow fat on small quantities of various kinds of food, and still lose flesh when allowed to gorge himself with the same. Many swine in the vicinity of coal mines, consume both coal and charcoal, and little else, yet they grow fat.

Evidences can be furnished to show that both the superior and inferior orders of creation might subsist on a very small quantity of food without danger. Shipwreck mariners have been known to exist several weeks without food; and there is a man now residing in this state who during a period of 32 days never tasted food. The sleeping man of Rochester, is another example; and a case is recorded in one of our medical journals showing that an individual once lived for several months on nothing but pure water.

As regards horses, they form no exception to this peculiarity; we might introduce evidence convincing and positive of their ability to endure the privations of hunger, and at the same time show that they suffer but little from its effect. A single case will serve to illustrate this. We once treated a case of tetanus, lock-jaw. The subject never tasted food during a period of 16 days, on the 17th, the masseters relaxed and the faculty of swallowing returned; at this period we might suppose him to be "hungry as a bear," yet on offering him a few oats, he did not appear to be very ravenous, and partook of food subsequently offered him as if nothing had happened.

These are extreme cases, yet they go to show that there is no cause for alarm because a horse happens to be "off his feed," once in a while. Such condition may ultimately prove salutaryaffording the stomach and its associates, time to rest from their herculean labors.

The fact that most of our adult horses get more food than they need, has been demonstrated by analysis of their excrement; which has been found to contain a large amount of nutritious material, over and above what the animals actually need.

We can develop the gormandizing powers of very many horses, by placing before them, from day to day, more than they require, their appetites, like some of ours', are not proof against temptation, and the digestive organs may be trained to dispose of twice the quantity of food, actually needed, and the habit at first acquired, becomes permanent, and the creature is known as a voracious feeder-a glutton. Hence, through indiscretions of this character, we can augment both function and capacity of stomach. We remember examining the stomach of a horse, the property of a baker, who was in the habit of feeding the former on brown bread. The animal died of chronic indigestion, and his stomach exceeded in capacity that of two ordinary horses.

Great care, therefore, is requisite in regard to the proper feeding of horses, for in their domesticated state, they have lost those natural instincts which serve to inform the untamed animal of the

necessary amount of food which his system needs, and they are in the condition of a thoughtless child that will eat all day, and on retiring to bed will crave and cry for more.

Our readers have probably heard of the gormandizing propensities of natives in the arctic regions; some of them think nothing of bolting down 20 lbs. of meat and oil, per day, and making a good supper on tallow candles. A case is related, by Captain Cochrane, of a Russian who eat, in the course of twenty-four hours, the hind quarter of an ox-twenty pounds of fat and drank a quantity of melted butter. He also states that he has seen three gluttons consume a deer at one meal. But we need not go beyond our own immediate vicinity to prove that the gormandizing powers of both men and horses are equally extraordinary. The corn dealer's bill furnishes one illustration; and the lengthened meal which some of our young men indulge in, commencing in the morning and only ending at night, completes the evidence.

Hence, with these facts before us, we may safely conclude that errors in diet are constantly occurring, and, consequently, a great many unnecessary diseases arise in consequence; therefore, we recommend our readers to make an experiment in the opposite direction, and ascertain how small a quantity of good food will answer the purpose of nutrition.

Should the quantity be insufficient for the animal's wants, we shall soon be made aware of the fact, by loss of flesh and other unmistakable signs. On the other hand, the error alluded to is not so easily corrected, for the animal may die overburthened with fat, of an acute disease, before we can reduce his system.

CONCLUSION.

The reader will perceive that in the management and feeding of horses, there opens a fine field of observation and improvement; yet, in order to apply that unlimited power which man seems to possess over his own organization, and that of the inferior orders of creation, he must be conversant with animal physiology, for on this science alone do we base the problem of life.

Now, reader, after having presented this essay for your consideration, pray do not find fault with the stable-keeper, because your horse does not look fat and sleek. You had better trust to the discretion of the man, who, having been long in the stable business, is perhaps better qualified than yourself, to judge of the effects of food under the states of rest and exercise, and knows how to graduate the same accordingly. We frequently have occasion to notice that horses owned by stable-keepers, are never so fat as the boarders: a very good proof that the latter get more than they require. Some men are in the habit of ordering a given quantity, say six or twelve quarts of oats at a feed, whenever they put up, and the feeder gives it; at the same time he is well aware that the animal

does not need it, yet he must obey orders; for should he suggest that the quantity be too great, his motive may be questioned, and wrong inferences drawn. Depend upon it, therefore, that when the stabler, by a judicious system of feeding, prevents fat from accumulating on horses, is conferring a favor on his patrons, and benefiting the animal.

As regards the number of meals per day, our own observations satisfy us that working horses require three meals per day. A bountiful, yet very early breakfast; at noon, a light meal, composed of cut hay and oats; at night, the quantity may be increased, equal to the morning meal.

It is very poor policy to feed or water on the road, when performing a short journey. Yet, should a horse seem to stand in peed of something, we should not object to a handful of oats, and a few swallows of water occasionally.

REMARKS ON INFLUENZA WITH A CASE IN ILLUSTRATION. BY M. A. CUMMING, M. R. C. V. S. L. & E., ST. JOHN, N. B.

The term "horse-ail," or "horse-distemper," as used in this country, designates a scries of diseases graduating from the most trivial to the most dangerous. From a simple cold, or slight running at the nose, through the different phases of catarrh, or inflammation of the mucous surfaces of the head and throat; bronchitis, or inflammation of the wind-pipe, and small air-tubes; pneumonia, or inflammation of the substance of the lungs; and pleurisy, or inflammation of their surfaces, and those adjoining. Nor does this complete the list; the more distinct, and less frequent ailments of strangles, laryngitis, influenza, and glanders, when occurring, all receive the same name.

Now, although the name given to a disease does not alter its nature, yet there is often mischief from the loose way of giving the same terms to things widely dissimilar. For instance, a man has a horse attacked with pleurisy or pneumonia; some one tells him it is "horse-ail;" he bleeds him betimes, gives him antimony, or some other sedative, and the horse recovers. Here is a cure for "horseail." His neighbor may be less lucky; his horse takes strangles, or influenza. This is "horse-ail" also. He is bled, and nauseated same as the other, and, to a certainty, dies. Such things are puz zling to the unprofessional, and lead them to doubt the good of doing anything, and next when their animals get sick, the chances are that nothing is done, till past hope of relief, and all from a badly bestowed name.

My object in writing these remarks, however, is not to quarrel about names, but to direct attention to things. "Horse-ail," in

one of its forms, has for some time been prevailing here, and from the cases I have seen, and the dissections I have made, I have every reason to think is of an epidemic form. The disease I mean is Influenza, one of the most insidious, if not the most dangerous, to which animal life is subject. In England, and in fact in the whole of Western Europe, as may be seen from the veterinary and agricultural journals of these countries, there is seldom a spring or autumn in which influenza does not prevail; and from the observations of three seasons on this side of the Atlantic, I think it wants only to be discriminated from other diseases, to be found equally prone to occurrence here. Of the causes which tend to shroud it from being more generally observed, one is its insidious, and subacute character, showing few external symptoms, by which it may be recognized; and another, that when death ensues, it does so from the involvement of some important internal organ, not at first affected, the heart, lungs, or serous membranes, being the most liable to suffer. It is to this obscurity, and apparent unimportance of its first appearance, that I wish at present to allude, as it is at the earliest development of the disease that a little judicious knowledge may be of most essential use.

To the casual observer, influenza in the horse presents little to mark its presence; the more obvious symptoms being only a partial loss of appetite, a little dulness at his work, and a greater tendency to sweat on slight exertion. To this, however, a closer inspection will add a languid cloudy eye, with commonly a little streak of matter in its corner, a placid or drooping ear, colder than usual at its tip; the hair drier than usual, and rising with the least cold, the mouth either hot and clammy, or cold, with a drop of slaver on the lip; the feet and limbs of unequal heat; and the bowels torpid, with a slimy coating on their discharge. To all these symptoms may be added—and it is the key to all the rest-the state of the pulse. This is commonly increased in frequency, though at times —it may be in particular stages—it is the reverse, but invariably it is affected in its strength, volume, and regularity, showing the fever in the circulation. Coincident, and connected with these is a general drowsy depression, greater or less, according to the severity of the attack, and the usage the animal has had; and a loss of strength, such as makes the slightest work-what to the horse in health was play-a serious labor.

It is when thus affected that the faithful servant requires the sympathy and care of his master. Let him have this, and nursing such as the master himself would like in like circumstances, and all will again be well. Take the other plan, and, like some, try to work and whip him into health and spirits, and the consequence may cost his life. In Influenza, as in other febrile complaints, there is a mustering and a struggling of the powers of nature to effect a salutary change; promote this by rest, moderate warmth, and good

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