PHYSIC 303 



veterinarian rather than of the groom. Thus, in the horse recently brought 

 up from grass, it will often be necessary to expel worms ; and though the 

 experienced groom may be able to do this without risk, yet it is scarcely 

 safe to recommend the young hand to attempt the task. At all events, if 

 he does, he must be guided by the directions given in another part of this 

 book ; and I shall merely direct my attention to the effects of physic — 

 firstly, in getting rid of injurious food ; secondly, in cooling the stomach 

 and general system, and thus enabling the latter to bear the increased 

 stimulus afforded by extra food ; and thirdly, to get rid of internal fat and 

 humours in conjunction with sweating. 



To THE EFFECTS OF PHYSIC IN GETTING RID OF INJURIOUS FOOD, I have 



already alluded ; but I may here mention two or three circumstances which 

 will serve to modify the dose, or to forbid it altogether. Curiously enough, 

 when a horse comes in from grass, his bowels being in the usual loose state 

 which accompanies that kind of feeding, he will generally require more 

 aloes than when fed upon dry food. The reason of this seeming paradox 

 is simple enough : his bowels have become accustomed to the stimulus 

 presented by grass to their lining membrane, and are not easily roused to 

 action by aloes, which is only a vegetable, still more stimulating, it is true, 

 but simply in degree. A man accustomed to drink, will not be so much 

 affected by swallowing a j)int of brandy, even if he is already half drunk, as 

 a perfectl}^ sober man would be, if he had not previously been inured by 

 long usage to its effects. The groom must not, therefore, fancy that a 

 physic-ball of three drachms, or even sometimes four drachms, will be sure 

 to act on a horse of average size and constitution, just up from grass ; for 

 he will find from four and a half to five and a half drachms more likely to 

 serve his purpose. Unless he knows the constitution of the animal, he had 

 better content himself with the former ; but generally this quantity will 

 not have much appreciable effect beyond a very gentle clearing out of the 

 bowels. No mash is necessary, because the grass has already prepared the 

 bowels quite sufficiently. Of course, if the horse is already too low in flesh, 

 no physic should be given at this time. 



The cooling powers op physic are those which render it particularly 

 valuable in aiding the preparation of the horse for fast work. If at any 

 time the legs become hot, a dose will carry off the plethoric condition 

 which shows itself in this way, and the rest which must be given after it 

 will assist in relieving them. At this time, a mash should always precede 

 the physic ; and a second on the following night will often be necessary 

 before the dose can safely be given. The same effect would be produced 

 by permanently taking away some of the corn ; but this would put an end 

 to the preparation altogether, and it is to avoid this alternative that the 

 physic is given. The old plan was in all cases to give a course of three 

 doses, at intervals of nine days, to every horse when first taken into work ; 

 but if plenty of walking exercise is used, and the corn is gradually 

 increased, with an ounce of nitre in the mash every Saturday night, this 

 routine is quite unnecessary, and a couple of doses at the intervals I have 

 fixed will suffice. Very gross, lusty horses will, perhaps, requie one, or 

 even two additional doses; and, on the contrary, light herring-gutted 

 animals will do without any. The art of the groom consists in fixing upon 

 the proper qtiaiitum, beyond or below which he ought not to go. 



