In view, then, of preventing "bone disorder," which we have termed _indigestion_, we should endeavor to ascertain what articles are best for food, and learn, from the experience of others, what have been universally esteemed as such, and, by trying them on our own animals, prove whether we actually find them so. Scalded or boiled food is better adapted to the stomach of animals than food otherwise prepared, and is so much less injurious. The agents that act on the internal system are those which, in quantities sufficient for an ordinary meal, supply the animal system with stimulus and nutriment just enough for its wants, and contain nothing in their nature inimical to the vital operations. All such articles are properly termed food. (For treatment, see _Hide-bound_, p. 196.) FOOTNOTE: [30] Whenever there is a deficiency of carbon, bone meal may assist to support combustion in the lungs, and by that means restore healthy action of the different functions, provided, however, the digestive organs, aided by the vital power, can overcome the chemical action by which the atoms of bone meal are held together. +-----------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the | | original document have been preserved. | | | | Typographical errors corrected in the text: | | | | Page 36 selecter changed to selector | | Page 48 relaxents changed to relaxants | | Page 54 bronchea changed to bronchi | | Page 85 relaxents changed to relaxants | | Page 112 relaxent changed to relaxant | | Page 135 antispetics changed to antiseptics | | Page 162 BLAINE changed to BLAIN | | Page 181 crums changed to crumbs | | Page 186 puarts changed to quarts | | Page 236 Marshallow changed to Marshmallow | | Page 247 Merinoes changed to Merinos | | Page 307 cypripedum changed to cypripedium | | Page 312 duretic changed to diuretic | | Page 316 peal changed to peel | | Page 341 similating changed to simulating | +-----------------------------------------------+ End of Project Gutenberg's The American Reformed Cattle Doctor, by George Dadd