PHYSIC, 8^c. 43 



In inflammatory cases, where a cathartic is 

 required to operate expeditiously ; or \yhere 

 \a horse, by his rejecting powers, compels a 

 ball to regurgitate, and it cannot be easily 

 or properly passed, this drink may be ad- 

 mitted v/ith propriety. Bat where a dose of 

 physic is given merely as a purgative, with- 

 out any indication of instantaneous neces- 

 sity, I must, injustice, certainly recommend 

 a ball in preference ; and for this reason, 

 which I doubt not will prove perfectly con- 

 sistent and satisfactory to every mind pre- 

 pared for information. — The ball being given, 

 is twenty-four hours in its gradual dissolu- 

 tion in the stomach and subsequent passage 

 through the intestinal canal ; this, by its 

 gentle and regular solution of the excrements, 

 and lubrication of the parts, accounts most 

 readily for the great ease any of the pre- 

 ceding balls work off with in general, with- 

 out the least necessity tor all tliat alarm and 

 apprehension betrayed by so many, who 

 prefer the chance of spoiling, or at least in- 

 juring, a capital horse, to seeing him under 

 the temporary disquietude of a salutary 

 course of physic. 



The same ease is not to be expected in the 



