PHYSIC 51 



have nothing but gentle walking and trotting exercise, 

 of about an hour and a half at a time, before the heat 

 of the day ; and by no means should a brush be laid 

 upon him, as it opens the pores of his skin and renders 

 him more susceptible of cold. Indeed, all the groom- 

 ing he requires at this time is to have his legs well 

 rubbed — particularly with the hand — three times a 

 day, and oftener if the circulation be languid, and his 

 body well wisped with a good solid hay wisp, a little 

 damped. Should a horse have had some physic at 

 grass in the summer, or late in the spring, before he 

 was turned out, and not appear foul, it may be better 

 to stop a fortnight or three weeks between his second 

 and third dose ; and, if a bit of soft ground can be 

 found, to give him a little work in the time. If his two 

 other doses did not work him hard, it will be advisable 

 to add half a drachm of aloes to the third dose, as it 

 will take more to move his bowels now than it did 

 before he got the hard meat into him, and had a little 

 work. 



Having said that there is nothing to fear from the 

 operation of physic, I beg to be understood to mean 

 provided the horse has been properly prepared to 

 receive it, and the drugs are good of their kind. By 

 giving him two large loose mashes for two days in 

 succession, the bowels become so relaxed as to prevent 

 the possibility of danger ; and by an alteration lately 

 made by the veterinary surgeons, of having the horse 

 exercised on the day he takes the ball, a milder one does 

 the business, and the operation is much quickened. 

 It generally begins to work on the evening of the day 



