70 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



If purging should become pretty active after admin- 

 istering the above medicine, it should not be hastily 

 checked unless inflammatory symptoms begin to 

 appear, or if the horse exhibits weakness. In either 

 of these cases then the following medicine may be 

 given : 



Gruel .... I gallon, 



Prepared chalk . . i ounce, 



Catechu J ounce, 



Opium J ounce. 



After this give the following tonic : 



Gentian .... 2 drachms, 

 Ginger . . . . 2 drachms ; 



formed into a ball, and repeated daily until the dis- 

 charge is checked. 



HERNIA, OR RUPTURE. 



This consists of a portion of the intestine being 

 protruded from the abdominal cavity, either through a 

 natural opening or through one caused by disease. In 

 many cases the intestine may be returned into the 

 cavity, but it seldom is an effectual cure, in conse- 

 quence of the impossibility of applying a truss to keep 

 it up. There are other instances where the gut 

 having passed through the inguinal ring and protruded 

 into the scrotum of the entire horse, or in the groin 

 of the gelding, which may in time become so narrow 

 as not to admit of the gut being again returned, in 

 consequence of becoming thickened and the protruded 

 portion being filled with the dung. This is called 

 strangulated hernia, and can only be successfully 

 treated by a veterinary surgeon, and should on no 

 account be attempted by any other, especially an 

 uneducated person. 



