Linseed  in  small  quantities,  either, whole  or  ground,  raw
or  boiled,  is  sometimes  given  to  sick  horses.  It  is  too  nutri
tious  for  a  fevered  horse,  but  is  very  useful  for  a  cough,  and
it  makes  the  skin  loose  and  the  coat  glossy.  Half  a  pint  may
be  mixed  with  the  usual  feed  every  night.  For  a  cough  it
should  be  boiled,  and  given  in  a  bran  mash,  to  which  two  or
three  ounces  of  coarse  sugar  may  be  added.
Oil  Cake,  ground  and  given  in  the  boiled  food,  when  not  very
rich,  consisting  chiefly  or  entirely  of  roots,  is  much  stronger
than  bran,  and  stronger,  perhaps,  than  oatmeal  seeds.  Two
to  four  pounds  per  day  is  the  usual  allowance.  It  makes  the
hair  glossy.  Horses  seem  to  tire  of  it  soon,  but  the  farmer
will  find  it  useful  for  heroine  his  horses  through  the  winter.
ARTICLES  USED  AS  FOOD.  191

Hempseed  used  to  be  given  to  racers  a  few  days  before
running.  It  was  supposed  to  be  invigorating  and  "  good  for
the  wind."  I  believe  it  is  not  now  employed,  except  occa-
sionally to  stallions,  during  the  travelling  season.  Some  give
four  or  six  ounces  every  night.
Sago. — In  the  year  1839,  this  article  was  a  good  deal  spo*
ken  of  as  an  excellent  food  for  horses.  Mr.  Ritchie,  veteri-
nary surgeon  of  Edinburgh,  made  some  experiments  with  it,
and  detailed  them  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  Agriculture.
