OK, HORSE DOCTOR 27 



haps to the destruction, of the animal. The great difficulty 

 therefore consists in knowing when these discharges are 

 critical and salutary, and when detrimental and noxious ; 

 for the former must not be checked, but the aid of medicine 

 must be called in to put a stop to the latter. 



For instance, — if a healthy horse, upon taking cold, or 

 after hard riding, over feeding, or at the beginning of a 

 slight fever, have a moderate purging, you must be careful 

 not to stop it, but on the contrary to promote it, by an open 

 diet, and plenty of warm gruel. But if this purging con- 

 tinue a long time, ^ith smart gripings, and the inner skin 

 of the bowels come away with the dung, and the horse lose 

 both his flesh and his appetite at the same time, recourse 

 must immediately be had to proper medicines ; among which 

 the following are very effectual. I do not wish any one to 

 give medicines upon merely hearing the names of the drugs, 

 but to know first in what manner the drugs will operate. 



Take 1 ounce of Rhubarb, in powder. 

 2 drams of Myrrh, do, 



2 drams of Saffron. 



Give altogether in warm ale, and warm water for two 

 days after. This dose will not only work gently, but will be 

 of great service to the horse, as it will bring away the slime 

 which lodges in the small intestines, and correct the bile of 

 the stomach, which is the cause of this disorder. When the 

 disorder continues, and the horse's flesh keeps wasting away, 

 recourse must be had to astringents. Tormentil Root dried, 

 and pounded in a mortar, and put through a seive, is one 

 of the best astringents yet found out, though very little 

 known. The dose is from an ounce to an ounce and a half. 

 I believe that this valuable root has done more good in my 

 time, in stopping looseness and bowel complaints, than any 

 thing else. When the purging is attended with fever, a dif- 

 ferent method of practice is necessary. 



Take ^ ounce of Hhubarb, in powder. 

 1 ounce of Lenitive Electuary. 

 ^ ounce of Camphor. 

 1 ounce of Powdered Ginger. 



To be given in a pint of old ale. This is a very proper 

 medicine when the horse is troubled with a fever ; but if he 

 have no fever upon him, give the following : 



1 ounce of Tormentil Root, in powder. 

 ^ ounce of Japan Earth, do. 



Give these in red wine, or if that be thought too expensive, 

 in oak bark tea. Japan earth is a great healer of the bow- 



