102 TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 



dysentery ; although in that disease there are certain 

 stages in which purgative medicine may exert a beneficial 

 operation. In all cases of constipation, or in inflammation 

 of the brain, purgatives are especially called for. In 

 cutaneous affections we often exhibit purges, there being 

 great sympathy between the skin and the digestion. We 

 also occasionally administer — 



Purges in the absence of positive Disease. — When 

 a horse returns from grass, the custom is to give him three 

 "doses of physic :'' the object of which is, in the language 

 of the groom, to cleanse Mm ; to get up his belly ; to pull off 

 his grossness ; to fine his coat ; to set him thriving ; and, at 

 the same time, to keep down humours; all which conduce to 

 bring about that aptitude for bodily labour, called condition. 

 In this case, the operation of the purge is, to rid the 

 bowels of their contents, and thus prepare them for a less 

 voluminous food ; which accounts, in some measure, for the 

 reduction of the belly. A secondary effect of the operation 

 is, that by medicine the absorbent system is roused into 

 action, and the fulness which had been gained while the 

 animal was at grass removed. Another tendency is, to 

 rectify any derangement of the digestive organs, and thereby 

 render the coat smooth and glossy. Withal, purgatives will 

 keep down the inflammatory habit consequent on the nutritive 

 provender of the stable ; and, therefore, purgatives must be 

 regarded as valuable preventatives. 



Purgative Medicines. — Though there are several medi- 

 cines possessing cathartic properties, there is but one in 

 general use amongst us ; and that one is — 



Aloes. — Of aloes there are two kinds used in veterinary 

 practice. Cape and Barbadoes ; difference of opinion existed 

 respecting their relative strength and eflicacy. It is now 

 acknowledged the Barbadoes is stronger than the Cape : 

 however, I believe the one equally as efficacious as the 

 other ; although I am at present in the practice of using the 

 Barbadoes. 



The following formula I find to answer every purpose, 

 whether we use Cape or Barbadoes aloes : 



