344 SCOURING. 



the most necessary to be retained in memory, 

 when it is recollected, that where nature fails 

 in, or is inadequate to, the production and 

 completion of this effort, in her own defence, 

 she becomes gradually overpowered ; the in- 

 testines are enormously loaded, and the over- 

 repletion at length inevitably constitutes the 

 Gripes or inflammatory Cholic, on which we 

 last treated. But where nature is fortunately 

 adequate to her own work, and the accumu- 

 lation is spontaneously carried off, Boer^ 

 haaves maxim is strictly verified; and it 

 becomes palpably clear to every observer, 

 nature does not purge herself till she wants 

 purging. 



This kind of Lax or Looseness, is most 

 readily distinguished from such as arise from 

 other causes ; the horse is previously dull, 

 heavy, and inactive, seemingly oppressed, 

 and visibly overloaded, though without any 

 appearance of extreme pain, but subject to 

 a general disquietude ; the dung first comes 

 away with a degree of solidity ; the evacua- 

 tions then become more frequent, and at 

 last loose ; the discharges are at length rapid 

 in succession, large in quantity, dark in co^ 



