280 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



purging ; and for small thin animals 1 would 

 recommend the Cape aloes. But never at- 

 tempt to purge either large or small Horses, 

 without first relaxing the bowels with bran 

 mashes. 



Tha quantity of aloes requisite for purga- 

 tion, is also very various, and must depend 

 upon the animaJ's customary food and consti- 

 tution. This is a matter not to be wondered 

 at; but is a strong reason against leaving the 

 management of purgation in ignorant hands. 

 Some Horses are exceedingly difficult to 

 purge, whilst others are easily affected. Old 

 Horses generally require more than younger 

 Horses to purge them, and if at hard meat, it 

 makes much difference in this respect, it re- 

 quiring more to purge such Horses, than 

 others softer fed. These facts serve to shew 

 the extreme necsssity of prescribing a very 

 moderate quamtity as the first dose for a Horse, 

 vrilh whose constitutional peculiarities we are 

 ui/acquainted. The requisite quantity is also 

 greatly dependant on various other circum- 

 stances. Horses fresh from grass, purge with 

 a much less dose than Horses long stabled , 

 and to Horses used to bran mas^hes as daily 

 food, a moderate quantity only is requisite ; 

 ■while in other instances, by mashing three 

 times a day ,or several days, we may make 

 four or five driiHiS do the work of eight. This 

 shews the extreme importance of previous 

 mashing, particularly in weakly Horses, and 

 also in such as have been previously accus- 

 tomed to much hard food. Form also influ- 

 ences the quantity requisite ; a thin, narrow- 

 chested, lank-sided Horse, will purge more 

 readily than a circular deep-carcassed one. 

 It may be considered, therefore, that the 

 (quantity required tG purge Horses, both pru- 

 dently and effectually, range between five 



drams and ten ; the extent of which rang* 

 will serve to shew that somethins more is 

 requisite than a blind acquiescence in any 

 acknowledged receipt, or invariable form. 

 Thus far as reo'ards the account of aloes ffene- 

 rally ; we shall presently advert to them 

 again particularly. For the formation of 

 physic-balls, and the quantities required, see 

 list of medicines at the end of this book. 



When it is thought proper to give mercu ■ 

 rial physic for worms, or skin affections, two 

 drams of calomel may be given the night 

 previous, in a mash, first mixed with a table- 

 spoonful of flour. This, by lying all night in 

 the Horse, may perhaps assist its efficacy 

 particularly in case of worms ; and the aloetic 

 ball may be given the next morning ; recol- 

 lecting at the same time, that it should be 

 something less strong, on account of the calo- 

 mel already given. In giving physic, the in- 

 testines should always be prepared for this 

 operation by bran mashes, and which should 

 be given two or three days previously; nor 

 indeed should the physic be ever administered 

 until the stools present some appearance of 

 softening. The first dose given to every 

 Horse, with whom we are not well acquainted, 

 should be a very mild one ; for, as we have 

 before remarked, that some Horses are so 

 much more easily purged than others, it be- 

 comes us to use this discretion , and if the 

 (lose does not operate, it can do no harm, 

 though it is often most erroneously supposed 

 to do so. 



Exercise is of the greatest importance in 

 phv'sicing; but, as I before stated, the attend- 

 ants must be cautious not to trot or gallop. 

 Bris^k and continued walking is all that ought 

 to be allowed. The importance of exercise is 

 by uo means sufficiently considered. Half 



