520 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



honey. It is also worse than useless to add any diu- 

 retic to the mass, as soap or carbonate of soda. The 

 action of these on one set of organs, will weaken the 

 action of the aloes on another. 



A physic mass should never be kept more than two 

 or three months, for after that time it rapidly loses its 

 purgative property. 



Directions for physicing will be found elsewhere. 

 We will only add that, as a promoter of condition, the 

 dose should be always mild. A few fluid stools will 

 be sufficient for every good purpose. Violent disease 

 will alone justify violent purging. 



Three drachms of Barbadoes aloes will have as much 

 purgative effect as four drachms of the Cape, exclusive 

 of griping less, and being safer. If the horse is well 

 mashed, and carefully exercised, and will drink plenty 

 of warm water, the Cape may be ventured on, or at 

 least mixed with equal quantities of the Barbadoes ; 

 but if there be any neglect of preparation for physic, 

 or during the usual operation of the physic, the Cape 

 are not to be depended upon, and may be dangerous. 



Some persons are fond of what are called half doses 

 of physic. Three or four drachms are given in one 

 day, and three or four on the following ; and, perhaps, 

 if the medicine lias not operated, as in this divided 

 state it will not always, two or three additional drachms 

 are given on the third day. The consequence is, that 

 the bowels having been rendered irritable by the for- 

 mer doses, the horse is over purged, and inflammation 

 and death not unfrequently ensues when the effect 

 of the three becomes combined. 



In physicing a horse, whatever is to be done should 

 be done at once. Whatever quantity is intended to 

 be given should be given in one dose. 



The system of giving small doses of aloes as altera- 



