276 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



completely puzzled, and does not know where 

 to look for an answer, to explain the meaning 

 of cathartic, or purging medicine. 



Cathartics, or purging medicines, act by 

 stimulating the intestines to a more frequent 

 evacuation of their contents ; they also in- 

 crease the matter so expelled ; and, under 

 some circumstances, they alter the quality of 

 it too. This being the simple operation of 

 purging, it is evident how many erroneous 

 notions are entertained relative to it. 



Purging is used to reduce swelled legs ; but 

 no purge will act on the legs immediately ; for 

 it cannot in the first instance remove fluids 

 from any other parts but the stomach and 

 bowels. Ultimately it may remove the fluids 

 from other parts to make up the deficiency, 

 and thus the legs become lessened. 



Notwithstanding there are certain peculi- 

 arities of constitution generally, and certain 

 states of the alimentary canal, which particu- 

 larly render this process very salutary to the 

 Horse, and which are essentially necessary to 

 keep him up to that standard of condition 

 which is now the pride of every gentleman 

 and sportsman ; still, purging has its limits, 

 and if carried too far, which it frequently is by 

 many " would be knowing grooms," until it 

 ends in the death of the animal, let his value 

 be ever so great. I have here to complain of 

 training-grooms in general. They will rarely 

 allow a veterinary surgeon to come into their 

 stables ; and why is this ? Does the veterin- 

 ary surgeon not know his practice'^ or does he 

 know too much ? One, or the other must be 

 the case ; or why allow a man perfectly igno- 

 rant of anatomy or pathology, to have the 

 medical care of so great a property as noble- 

 men are possessed of in the shape of Horses ? 

 However, it is not my province to dictate to 



the world ; it is only a matter of opinion, but 

 having gone through the whole task myself 

 before my apprenticeship to a veterinary sur- 

 geon, I think my experience at least may 

 qualify me to form a just opinion. However, 

 the world is made, and we must get through 

 it in the best manner we can. But to our 

 sul.ject. 



There are various uses to which purgative 

 medicine becomes applicable, but may gene- 

 rally be arranged under such as are give.n as 

 a remedy against an existing disease; those 

 exhibited as a preventative against a probable 

 one also, are greatly used for promoting a 

 certain state, called condition. 



Cathartics are most beneficially used against 

 inflammation, or almost all diseases of in- 

 creased action, except of the alimentary canal. 

 By increasing the waste of the watery parts 

 of the blood, it tends to deplete the system, 

 and to lessen arterial action. In active in- 

 flammation it greatly assists bleeding, and >d 

 others, it is superior to it, and can be advan- 

 tageously employed, when that cannot be 

 with propriety attempted, as in fevers possess- 

 inj^ a low or putrid character ; for as such 

 appear to be often dependent on some morbid 

 change within, or some morbid combinations 

 formed by the biliary fluid, which purging 

 acts particularly upon ; so that its advan- 

 tages here are striking. In plethoric cases, 

 which produce serous deposits in the legs, 

 &c., as in Horses just removed from grass, 

 &c., we depend on purgatives for their 

 removal. In pursive, thick-winded Horses, 

 physic not only prevents further accumulation, 

 but also stimulates the absorbents to take up 

 some of the existing deposit. In dyspeptic 

 cases, in hide-bound, in lampas, and others, 

 arising from the deranged functions of the 



