196 ADMINISTERING MEDICINE. 



two or three nights, so as to make the bowels rather loose 

 than otherwise, and thus allow the dose to act without undue 

 forcing of the impacted f(Bce8 backward. If physic is given 

 without this softening process, the stomach and bowels pour out 

 a large secretion of fluid, which is forced back upon the rectum, 

 and met by a solid obstacle which it takes a long time to 

 overcome^ and during that interval the irritating purge is 

 acting upon the lining membrane, and often produces excessive 

 inflammation of it. Purging physic should generally be given 

 in the middle of the day, after which the horse should remain 

 in the stable, and have chilled water as often as he will drink 

 it, with bran mashes. By the next morning he will be in a 

 condition to be walked out for an hour, which will set the 

 bowels acting, if they have not already begun. It is usual to 

 tie up the tail with a tape or string, so as to keep it clean. 

 The horse should be warmly clothed, and if the physic does 

 not act after an hour's walk, he may be gently trotted for a 

 short distance, and then taken home ; and if still obstinate, 

 he may be exercised again in the afternoon. As soon as the 

 physic operates pretty freely, the horse is to be taken into his 

 stable, and not stirred out again, under any pretense what- 

 ever, for forty-eight hours after it has "set," or, in common 

 language, stopped acting. When the purging has ceased, 

 the mashes may be continued for twenty -four hours, with a 

 little corn added to them, and a quantity of hay. The water, 

 during the whole time, should be in small quantities, and 

 chilled ; and the clothing should be rather warmer than usual, 

 taking great care to avoid draughts of cold air. Every horse 

 requires at least a three-day's rest for a dose of physic, in 

 order to avoid risk of mischief. 



