452 NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



Alum. — This is a well-known medicine. It is a valuable 

 astringent. Burned alum is a mild caustic, often applied to 

 fung-us, or proud-fiesh. The dose of it, internally, is from two 

 to four drams, or even an ounce. It is used in founder, and 

 may be used in diarrhea, to check the frequency of the dis- 

 charges. 



Aloes. — There are several kinds of aloes kept by druggists, 

 but the best for veterinary practice is the Barbadoes aloes, 

 which is the only kind recommended in this book, and those 

 using it should always call for it. Barbadoes aloes is a dark 

 brow^n substance, resembling an extract, and is hard to pul 

 verize. It is a hardened juice obtained from the leaves of 

 a foreign plant. It is best to powder enough of Barbadoes 

 aloes for a year's use in frosty weather, as it is very dif 

 ficult to pulverize it in warm w^eather. The powdered aloes 

 should be kept in well-stopped bottles. 



Aloes is the principal article used as a cathartic, or physic, 

 in the treatment of the horse. The dose is about eight drams, 

 or one ounce in weight, which would be of the powdered drug 

 about two or three rounding table-spoonfuls. It has been very 

 common to give aloes in the form of a ball, or big pill, but it 

 takes this a long time to dissolve. It is far better to give 

 it in solution. The best method of giving it is to have the 

 drug well powdered, then mix with the dose of aloes one 

 table-spoonful of ginger, and mix it in a pint of boiling water, 

 stirring it frequently until cool. To be given as a drench, 

 or draught. 



As it is a good plan to keep a safe and reliable physic con 

 stantly on hand, either of the two following' preparations of 

 aloes may be used for this purpose : 



Take — Powdered aloes 15 ounces. 



Powdered ginger 1 ounce. 



Palm-oil 8 ounces. 



Beat all thorouglily together to form a mass. 



