266 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



To do so almost necessitates the use of the twitch, for the 

 ghastly performance cannot be got through at one effort. 

 Were a whole bottleful of stuff to be poured down the throat 

 at once, the animal would either cough it up or be choked. 

 It is generally therefore divided into several portions, and 

 the wretched patient is made to undergo the torment of 

 taking the liquid abomination in a succession of doses. 



It is always best, when about to physic a horse, to banish 

 all extraneous aid from the stable. A number of persons 

 standing about, officious assistants crowding the limited 

 space, and would-be advisers pressing their unwelcome aid, 

 are things which only tend to embarrass and confuse the 

 operator, and render the horse so fidgetty that to do 

 anything with him, or for him, becomes a hopeless task. 

 Not more than one person ought ever be permitted to be 

 present, and not even one if his assistance can possibly be 

 dispensed w^ith. 



It is a bad thing to allow a horse to drink cold water 

 after he has been physicked ; as warm as he can be in- 

 duced to have it will be the proper thing. 



I feel that I ought, before passing to another portion 

 of my subject, to repeat my warning concerning tindiie 

 physicking. A tendency to inflammation is repeatedly 

 developed by it, and its evils are in every way both many 

 and great. It should be borne in mind that well-made 

 bran-mashes are the safest and most effectual of all laxa- 

 tives, and that any desired condition of the bowels may be 

 induced by regulating the number and frequency of them. 

 When not too often repeated they act mildly, without 



