BRAN MASHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 6

BRAN MASHES.

Bran mashes are the very poetry of physio and feed combined. They are cooling, comforting and slightly laxative and never do harm, even though they may do little or no good. Who shall say that bran mashes do no good X Who shall say that they are not suitable to the horse when lie eats so greedily ? If a horse will not eat a bran mash, whether ill or well, then there is something wrong with the bran—it is mousey or something of that sort. Given good bran, no horse can refuse it, unless his case is exceedingly bad. Bran mashes are .useful to form a vehicle for medicines; but the greatest care should be taken not to give a horse anything nasty in the bran mash, in such a manner as to effect the whole mash, or the chances are that the animal wijl retain a i*ecollection, however dirai that will enable hirn to associate; an unpleasant taste with the appearance of the mash. Bran mashes are, then, to be regarded as curative if they are used to remove premonitory sy m'ptoms. They may be regarded as preventive if administered every Saturday night to a horse that can rest on Sunday. In such cases it is better to give the mash cold in lieu of the feed of grain. A warm bi'an mash for a sick horse is made by pouring boiling water on bran in a pail and covering it with a cloth to retain the steam. A handful of dry bran thrown on top of the mash will answer the same purpose. To make a cold mash the bran is stirred up with cold water.