30 



THE MODERN SYSFEM 



given. If all things go on well, and as much 

 to your wish as possible, you must noi strip 

 his cloth off, nor dress him till his physic has 

 done working, which generally will be about 

 the third day. While his physic is operating, 

 you must not take him out, though, if you have 

 convenience, you may put him in a loose box, 

 which will afford him exercise quite sufficient 

 until his physic is set : be careful in keepin i; 

 his hocks, legs, and thighs clean, for at timt-s, 

 the discharge is very irritating. 



When the physic has so operated, as to 

 keep the body open for about twenty-four 

 hours, giving him copious and loose stools, you 

 may forbear using means of promoting further 

 operation ; let him stand until his dung is set, 

 you may then give him his corn, strip, and 

 dress him well ; the next day take him out, 

 and give him gentle exercise. 



About the sixth or seventh day from the 

 time lie took his first dose, you may admini.sfer 

 the second, ordering the Horse as directed 

 before, and again letting the same time elapse 

 between : you may then give the third dose, 

 which, in general, is sufficient to thoroughly 

 cleanse the Horse from that faint or foul con- 

 dition which green food naturally occasions ; 

 and then you will, by proper diet and exercise, 

 get him into wind and condition for hunting : 

 but before I proceed with that part, I shall 

 make some further remarks on physic. 



I have noticed the manner of ordering a 

 Horse in physic, under the circumstances of 

 the physic properly operating and going on 

 right ; but from various causes, it may so 

 happen that physic does not take a proper, or 

 the expected effect. If physic does not operate 

 in the space of thirty-six hours, some reasons 

 snould be a-ssigned for it. Now, it may pro- 

 ceed from the quality of the physic, it not 



being good , or it might arise from the ball not 

 being completely administered; for when a 

 ball is not adeptly given, and the Horse gets 

 part of it in his teeth, he may only swallow a 

 part, which you perceiving to pass, may be 

 therewith satisfied, and the residue may be 

 dropped in his litter, and never after be dis- 

 covered ; or it may proceed from the habit or 

 constitution of the Horse, not being easily 

 moved, so that he may require a stronger dose ; 

 and some Horses will keep physic longer in 

 them before it operates than others. 



Whatever the reason may be, I should not 

 be in haste to administer another dose, until I 

 had used the ordinary expedients, and waited 

 to observe the effects. 



When physic does not operate in the space 

 of thirty-six hours, keep the Horse warm, for 

 that will assist the operation, and administo 

 about a quart of gruel, into which put about a 

 pint of mild ale ; warm and horn it down ; 

 then, in a quarter of an hour afterwards, let 

 him be moved about at a brisk walk, or gentle 

 trot, but not sufficient to heat the Horse, or in 

 anywise make him sweat. At night, give him 

 a moderately warm mash, into which put 

 about a handful of ground malt ; and if it does 

 not operate the next morning, I should tlien be 

 inclined to doubt whether he had really taken 

 the physic, unless the Horse had appeared 

 sick, which you will perceive by his being 

 heavy and dull, and refusing his hay ; on the 

 other hand, a soft evacuation only, and that 

 may be in consequence of the warm gruel or 

 mash you might have given him. But if he 

 throws out a copious thin stool, having been 

 sick with it, you may conclude, he had all of 

 his physic, or, at least, llie greater part; yet, 

 if his body is not kept open four and twenty 

 hours, having several copious evacuations, f 



