PURGING. 103 



Take of Aloes, Ifeiij ; 

 Soft Soap, ftj. 



After having broken the aloes into small pieces, melt them 

 over a slow fire : as they dissolve, stir them well, allowing 

 them to simmer gently until such time as they become a 

 smooth mass. An ounce of any essential oil may be added 

 during the cooling of the mixture. 



The COMMON Dose is from half an ounce to an ounce, 

 according to the size, age, and apparent strength of the 

 horse. A large bulky horse, of the cart-breed, will require 

 less than one of the hackney or hunter description. Much 

 will depend on the condition in which the animal happens 

 to be : a horse that is at hard work, will always take more 

 than one that is pampered, and more than one recently 

 come from grass. Peculiarity of constitution is also to be 

 observed. Professor Coleman mentioned a horse that re- 

 quired no more than three drachms of Cape aloes to purge 

 it : in opposition to which I may set the case of a thorough- 

 bred filly which took fourteen drachms of Barbadoes aloes to 

 produce purgation. In prescribing, the dose will depend on 

 the nature of the disease medicine is meant to relieve. In 

 cases of obstinate constipation, also in brain affections, we 

 have occasion to exhibit much larger doses than in health : 

 ten, twelve, or fourteen drachms, and so much as two ounces, 

 are, now and then, required in such cases. 



Apportioning the dose of purgative medicine is rather a 

 delicate duty, as more horses are killed by aloes than by all 

 the poisons. Well-bred horses require the largest amount. 

 Young animals take less than old. Soft, overgrown, or 

 washy, tucked-up horses should be physicked with every 

 caution. Light chesnuts or light bays, especially if they 

 have white legs, are said to bear medicine badly ; yet, in 

 contradiction of the last report, I have a light bay horse, 

 which has always been looked upon as ^' soft^^ and " washy,^' 

 not only because of the colour and conformation, but because 

 the animal scours generally during exertion. This soft, 

 light-coloured horse it is difficult to purge with aloes. 



