On the Use and Abuse of Pur gat ices, 15 



means, (more especially as in such instances^ exercise cannot be 

 had recourse to,) the Physic should be given in an hour or two after 

 the Blood has been taken away, and if there be reason to appre- 

 hend a costive state of the Bowels, the Rectum should be emptied 

 by that manual operation called by the Farriers Raking;— an opera- 

 tion which if it be executed with a mixture of gentleness and firm- 

 ness, may at all times be readily performed,, without either pain or 

 alarm to the Horse. — It will also be proper, in order to expedite the 

 opemtion of the Physic, besides mashing the Horse frequently, to 

 give a Glyster, consisting of four quarts of warm thin Gruel with 

 salt, which must be repeated every four hours, until the effects of 

 the Purgative begin evidently to be perceived. When Physic is 

 given to Horses at grass, the weather ought to be warm and dry, 

 and should have the appearance of steadiness ; — and if any sudden 

 change should take place to cold or wet, the Horse should be housed 

 and kept loose in some roomy airy out-house, where he should be 

 soiled with fresh-cut grass, through the operation of the Physic. — 

 But whether Horses be Physicked at grass, or after they are brought 

 into the Stable, the same scrupulous attention ought to be paid to 

 keep the Stable cool and well ventilated, when they are first housed, 

 and their green food ought to be gradiiall} withdrawn from them. 

 If the latter direction however be impracticable, they should be 

 mashed morning and evening, they should get water very frequently 

 through the day, and Corn should be given to them at first, in small 

 quantities, which may be increased daily, until the full allowanc* 

 be arrived at. From want of attention to these circumstances. 

 Horses that are taken up from grass are frequently attacked with 

 what I call the Stable Fever, which comes on in consequence c^ 



