90 PHYSICKING. 



training', it is most necessary he should have bran 

 mashes, instead of his grain, and very little grass 

 for the previous day, or two days, whether the 

 physic is to be aloes or oil, a ball or a drench. 

 If he will not eat bran mash, he must be well 

 stinted of dry grass, and a little green (cut the 

 previous day) given. There is a peculiarity of 

 structure about a horse's inside, that, unless he 

 is properly prepared and carefully looked after 

 under physic, you not only will do no good, but, 

 on the contrary, you will throw him some weeks 

 back, and even run the risk of losing him ; for it 

 is surprising how suddenly a horse will sometimes 

 " go out " under a dose of physic improperly 

 given. You should endeavour to give your physic, 

 for any of the above purposes, of that strength 

 that not more than ten extra evacuations will 

 be produced. Some horses are easily operated 

 on with a ball of four drachms of aloes ; others 

 require a large dose of seven. At one time in 

 the year, a horse will sometimes purge with five 

 drachms, that another time will not feel the effect 

 of six. Four to six drachms of Mr. Sprague's 

 or Treacher's aloes are generally ample for any 

 Arab horse, if properly prepared and properly 

 exercised ; but eight drachms may fail to purge, 

 without proper precautions and exercise, and yet 

 easily produce inflammation and death. Some 



