556 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



the animal body, and it is not in the power of medi- 

 cine either to make it better, or to preserve it in the 

 same state. 



A good medicine, given seasonably, when there is 

 an appearance of some latent disorder, or some de- 

 rangement of the body, which would, in a short time, 

 occasion its breaking oat, may prevent it from taking 

 place by carrying it off. 



The same medicine given in health, will produce an 

 alteration in the system by increasing or diminishing 

 some of the natural secretions, or disturbing the animal 

 functions ; or even allowing that it did not produce 

 any of these changes, still it leaves the body just as 

 liable to disease as before. Besides, the custom of 

 giving medicine too frequently is a bad one ; they be- 

 come in time habitual to the constitution, which cir- 

 cumstance renders them totally inefficacious when 

 necessary, or at least it greatly reduces their effects. 



The medicines commonly administered to horses by 

 way of preventives, are generally composed of aro- 

 matics, spices, &c., under the denomination of cordials. 

 These are said to heat and invigorate the stomach, 

 and thereby promote digestion. But if a horse is 

 otherwise in health, this desirable end is brought about 

 in a much more natural way by proportioning the 

 food to the labour which the horse undergoes. 



Other medicines are given to horses in health, un- 

 der the title of alteratives, which are totally unneces- 

 sary, except the animal be in a state of disease. These 

 alteratives are supposed to change the humours or 

 juices of an animal body from a morbid or diseased 

 state o that of health. 



They have no immediate perceptible effect, but gain 

 gradually on the constitution, and are followed (if the 

 viscera are sound,) with the most salutary effects, by 



