1 INDIGESTION. 277 



the old one of dividing the purge into two or three doses^ and 

 giving them at intervals of three or four days : the bowels 

 being, in many of these cases, in such a state of morbid sus- 

 ceptibility that a full dose of purging mass is apt to bring 

 on troublesome diarrhoea. Besides which, I have invariably 

 found, that keeping up a very moderate discharge from the 

 bowels is, in the end, productive of more benefit than giving 

 full doses of physic. When diarrhoea or scouring is ac- 

 tually present without any medicine having been given, or in 

 a case where ever so little aloes induces it, I have seen much 

 good effected by administering hydrarg. c. cretd in doses of 

 a quarter ounce, once or twice a-day^ made into a ball with 

 powdered ginger and syrup. Cases in which, on the contrary, 

 costiveness is a prominent symptom — there appearing to be a 

 deficiency of bile — are benefited by the exhibition of a 

 scruple of calomel once a day, either in combination with a 

 drachm or a drachm and a half of purging mass, or else 

 followed up by a dose of physic. 



The Plummer's ball, composed as follows, is an excellent 

 formula for such cases as these : 



R Hydrarg. Chlorid., gr. x; 

 Antimon. Oxy.-Sulphuret., 9j ; 

 Guaiaci, 9ij ; • 



Farinse Avenge, 5iij ; 

 Syrup. Zingiberis, q. s. ut f. Bol. 



To be given once or twice a day. 



Change of Diet will often much assist in the restoration 

 of normal digestive functions. When green-meat can be 

 procured, soiling in the stable will be advisable ; though in 

 mild weather, particularly in the spring of the year, when 

 flies are not troublesome, a run at grass is to be preferred : 

 breathing the open air all day long, with the moderate exercise 

 the animal takes of his own accord, being the change of diet 

 very conducive to return to health. In the winter season, 

 carrots are given with advantage : Swedish turnips are also 

 recommendable : bruised or scalded oats may also be tried. 



