J 803. Duties of Alan towards the Brute Creation, 33 1 



propriety of only employing tlie very beft medicines of every 

 kind. Ihis is too much neglected, tven for the interniil ufe of 

 human patients. On the fubjedl of aloes, he infilts that none, 

 except fdccharinej ought ever to be exhibited. Our friend alleges, 

 that the kind called beft li.irbadoes are perfedly fafe, and much 

 cheaper; but hints, that purging, in general, except with great 

 precautions, and in moderate dofes, is very dangerous for horfes; 

 in confequence of the enormous length of their fmall guts, and 

 the peculiar infertion of thefe into the colon and Ciccum, from 

 which horfes are often killed, by thefe litter being burft, through 

 the exceflive violence of fome purges. 



In order that our readers may be enabled to form a tolerable 

 notion of Mr Lawrence's principles and method of writing, we 

 give the following extract. 



P. 470. volume fecond, fpeaking of the colic, a diforder that 

 kills more horfes than all others put together, he fays — 



* The primary caufe of a corimon fit of the- gripes in a horfe, is, nine 

 times out of ten, an accumulation of indurated excrement in the in- 

 teilines ; for, independently of the folid obftruftion fo occafioned, the 

 ufual proximate caufes would feldom have power to work thofe ferious 

 effefts we witncfs : thus, in a horfe, the colon of which was not pre- 

 vioufly infar(5led and pkigged up, the efFedl of a flight cold thrown upon 

 the bowels, or the devouring a few new beans, Avould probably pafs off 

 with a veiy moderate ftrugglc from nature. 



* The fymptoms fcarcely need defcription — cold dew at the ear-roots 

 and flanks ; frequent pointiiig to the feat of complaint, and a defire to 

 lie doxvn and roll ; fudden rihng, and great agitation : the greatnefs or 

 the agitation, or rather jaclitation, no convulfions exiiling, feems to fomi 

 the diagnollic in all colicky complaints. 



* The Cure requires prompt and vigorous meafures, and plenty of 

 afliftants to conduct them. Loofe ftable, or out-hoafe, well littered 

 down, that the horfe may have room to roll himfelf without injury. 

 Clothe with warm dry clothes. Man to attend the head, that it be not 

 beat againil the pavement or wall ; another, or two, to rub the belly well 

 at every quiet interval ; a more effectual help than generally imagined, 

 to difperfe the wind. Bleed, if poffible, in the neck veins, not only to 

 afcertain the quantity, but becaufe, furely, it cannot be irrational to 

 fuppofe fuch a fubilance as blood improper to be taken into the ilomach, 

 under the circumftances. Whilft medical remedies are preparing, walk 

 the horfe about briflvly in haiid, one following with a whip ; or keep 

 him to the jog-trot ; but drive him not fait, or harafs him, on any 

 pretence, which has ruptured the belly of many a horfe, and which at 

 leaft often inflames and exafperates the fymptoms. Back-rake with a 

 fmall h^nd well oiled, and give the common gruel clyster, with half a 

 pint of oil, and a large handful of fait : immediately pour down by the 

 mouth, half, a pint of Holland's geneva, rum, or brand}-, and a hke 



quantity 



