H U N T E R S- 307 



infer, and wifli it to be generally and incon- 

 trovertibly underftood and held in remem- 

 brance, that a very moderate dofe of phyfic 

 will ad: in a great degree upon the irrita- 

 bility of the ilomach and inteftines only^ ex- 

 citing a difcharge of their contents, as before 

 defcribed; while its increafed ftrength will, 

 by its additio?iai fa?nulus upon an-*] pcrie- 

 vering irritation of the finer vefTels, excite 

 their regurgitative contribution to the general 

 evacuation, fo long as the irritating proper- 

 ties of the cathartic lliall retain the power 

 of ading upon the vafcular fyftem ; which 

 differing fo very much in different fubjed:s, 

 requires proper difcrimination in the compo- 

 fition of purging medicines, confequently, 

 fliould always be carefully adapted to the 

 ftate, conftitution, and bodily ftrength of the 

 horfe. 



This naturally leads us to an inquiry of 

 the different degrees of physic, as moft 

 applicable to the various occafions for which 

 they are brought into ufe. It evidently ap- 

 pears by the above invefligation, that the 

 milder cathartics ad: fuperficially, merely to 

 difcharge the contents of the inteftinal ca- 



Xz nal| 



