THE IMPROVED ART OK FARRIERY. 559 



instance just mentioned the coats of the stomach had 

 been inflamed, and in that case the sudden application 

 of such a powerful astringent as vinegar, was very- 

 likely to cause immediate death." 



When horses are ill, it is too common a practice to 

 mix medicines, such as nitre, in their water. The dis- 

 agreeable taste thus given to the water prevents them 

 from drinkins;, and hence thev suffer considerablv for 

 want of fluids to quench their thirst, and to promote 

 the necessary secretions of urine. On the contrary, 

 every means should be tried to tempt horses to drink 

 freely in such cases, and sometimes it may be forced 

 down their throats with a horn ; for as most of the 

 diseases to which horses are subject are of an inflam- 

 matory kind, and the thinner parts of their fluids are 

 carried off by the strong perspiration they are exposed 

 to from the nature of their exercise, whenever they are 

 seized with acute diseases, their fluids are then more 

 disposed to be thick, viscid, and inflammatory ; there- 

 fore as water is the principal diluter of the fluids in 

 general, in such cases a considerable quantity of it at 

 this time becomes highly necessary, and in some cases 

 may be the best medicine that can be given them. 



In cases when horses refuse warm water, it may be 

 given cold without much danger, by first mixing a 

 little oatmeal with it and giving it in a small quantity 

 at a time. 



There is also a great difference in the wholesomeness 

 of food, both in regard to hay and oats ; and from all 

 these circumstances, the animal incurs a greater risk 

 of being disordered than when he remains in the fields 

 in this natural state. 



