THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 541 



emptied of dung by the repetition of clysters, which 

 have something stimulating in their composition, pre- 

 vious to the administering any particular medicine by 

 way of a clyster. 



Nor is the use of clysters confined to medicines 

 only ; food and nourishment may be conveyed into the 

 system in this, when a horse is unable to swallow any 

 thing by the mouth This I have frequently ex- 

 perienced in practice, and I have supported horses for 

 several days together by nourishing clysters made 

 of thick water-gruel, during violent inflammations 

 of the throat, until such time as they have been either 

 discussed or suppurated. 



The lacteal vessels, the mouths of which open into 

 the inner cavity of the intestines, absorb, or drink up, 

 the chyle or nourishment that is produced from the 

 food that has been digested, and convey it into the 

 mass of blood. The same process takes place when 

 nourisnment is conveyed into the intestines by the 

 auus, or fundament, only the food require to be so far 

 prepared and broken down, and diluted with water, as 

 to render it fit to be absorbed by the vessels men- 

 tioned above. 



In administermg clysters, it ought always to be ob- 

 served, that the contents of the clyster be neither too 

 hot nor too cold, and only milk-warm ; as either 

 of these extremes will surprise the horse, and cause 

 him to eject or throw it out before it has had time to 

 have any effect. 



Previous to introducing the clyster-pipe, the ope- 

 rator, after anointing his hand and arm with oil, butter, 

 or hog's-lard, (observing at the same time that the 

 nails of his fingers are short,) may introduce it into the 

 rectum and draw out the hardened dung gradually. 



This operation in farriery, is termed raking, or back- 



