Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
In reference to the purity of water, Smith, in his "Veterinary Hygiene,"
classes spring water, deep-well water, and upland surface water as
wholesome; stored rain water and surface water from cultivated land as
suspicious; river water to which sewage gains access and shallow-well
water as dangerous. The water that is used so largely for drinking
purposes for stock throughout some States can not but be impure. I refer
to those sections where there is an impervious clay subsoil. It is the
custom to scoop, or hollow out, a large basin in the pastures. During
rains these basins become filled with water. The clay subsoil, being
almost impervious, acts as a jug, and there is no escape for the water
except by evaporation. Such water is stagnant, but would be kept
comparatively fresh by subsequent rains were it not for the fact that
much organic matter is carried into it by surface drainage during each
succeeding storm. This organic matter soon undergoes decomposition, and,
as the result, we find diseases of different kinds much more prevalent
where this water is drunk than where the water supply is wholesome.
Again, it must not be lost sight of that stagnant surface water is much
more certainly contaminated than is running water by one diseased animal
of the herd, thus endangering the remainder.
The chief impurities of water may be classified as organic and
inorganic. The organic impurities are either animal or vegetable
substances. The salts of the metals are the inorganic impurities. Lime
causes hardness of water, and occasion will be taken to speak of this
when describing intestinal concretions. Salts of lead, iron, and copper
are also frequently found in water; they also will be referred to.
About the only examination of water that can be made by the average
stock raiser is to observe its taste, color, smell, and clearness. Pure
water is clear and is without taste or smell.
Chemical and microscopic examination will frequently be necessary in
order to detect the presence of certain poisons, bacteria, etc., and
can, of course, be conducted by experts only.
FEEDS AND FEEDING.
In this place one can not attempt anything like a comprehensive
discussion of the subject of feeds and feeding, and I must content
myself with merely giving a few facts as to the different kinds of feed,
preparation, digestibility, proper time of feeding, quality, and
quantity. Improper feeding and watering will doubtless account for more
than one-half the digestive disorders met with in the horse, and hence
the reader can not fail to see how very important it is to have some
proper ideas concerning these subjects.
KINDS OF FEED.
In this country horses are fed chiefly upon hay, grass, corn fodder,
roots, oats, corn, wheat, and rye. Many think that they could be fed on
nothing else. Stewart, in "The Stable Book," gives the following extract
from Loudon's Encyclopedia of Agriculture, which is of interest at this
point:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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