A compendium of the veterinary art : containing plain and concise observations on the construction and management of the stable ... the structure and economy of the horse ... a copious materia medica and pharmacopœia / by James White.

  • White, James, -1825
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A compendium of the veterinary art : containing plain and concise observations on the construction and management of the stable ... the structure and economy of the horse ... a copious materia medica and pharmacopœia / by James White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    CHAP. II. FEEDING. The best food foi' horses is oats and hay ; but it is of importance that such only should be given as are of the best quality. Oats that are musty, or that have any degree of bad smell, are not eaten with that relish that good sweet oats are; therefore they are not so perfectly digested, nor is the chyle that is formed from them so pure; hence arise indigestion, foulness of blood, loose- ness of the bowels, and general debility. This is more especially the consequence when the hay also is bad. I have known a serious loss sustained by a proprietor of post and coach horses, from keeping a considerable stock of oats, and neglecting to turn them. Many horses became glandered and farcied, apparently in consequence of this circumstance. Beans, when broken or bruised, may be an useful article of diet, joined with oats, for horses whose work is constant and hard. I have been assured, however, by some experienced coach and post masters, that during the hot summer months it is better to discontinue the beans. * Some horses, it is said, do not eat bruised oats with an appetite; in which case it is probable they do not digest them quite so readily as those which are not bruised. And when we consider that there is often a defect in the grinders, which causes a horse to masticate slowly and imperfectly; that horses have sometimes a voracious appetite, and swallow a considerable part of their corn without chewing it; and as corn that is swallowed unbroken is known to be indigestible; the bruising of oats must be considered as a matter of great importance, and may be the means of saving a considerable quantity of that article.f Another circumstance to be considered is, that when oats are taken into the stomach unbroken, being indigestible, they cause a great deal of useless exertion of the stomach in endeavouring to digest them. This exertion is not only useless, but very injurious, gradually weakening that important organ, and laying a foundation for many diseases, especially that named flatulent colic, or gripes. It is generally thought, and I have been of the same opinion, that chalf, especially of clover, is an useful addition to oats, in * Many large horse proprietors give green food in the summer instead of hay, in which case beans should be given to counteract the tendency the grass may have to produce scouring. Most horses eat green provender with avidity • and if given with moderation, and with some portion of hay, it is found very beneficial; but if given too profusely, and particularly if just cut it is ant to produce flatulent coHc—Ed.] ^ t Bruised oats are apt to produce diarrhoea, particularly if the animal is worked hard; they should therefore be given with chaff and beans.—Ed 1
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