PUEGING.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[PFEGING. 



scribing a very moderate quantity as the first 

 dose for a horse with whose constitutional 

 peculiarities we are unacquainted. The requi- 

 site quantity is also greatly dependent on 

 various other circumstances. Horses fresh 

 from grass purge with a much less dose than 

 those long stabled ; and for such as are used to 

 bran mashes as daily food, a moderate quantity 

 only is requisite ; while in other instances, by 

 mashing three times a day for several days, 

 four or five drachms may do the work of eight. 

 This shows the extreme importance of pre- 

 vious mashing, particularly in weakly horses, 

 and also in such as have been previously ac- 

 customed to much hard food. Form, also, in- 

 fluences the quantity requisite. A thin, nar- 

 row-chested, lank-sided animal will purge more 

 readily than a circular, deep-carcassed one. It 

 may be considered, therefore, that the quantity 

 required to purge horses, both prudently and 

 effectually, ranges between five drachms and 

 ten; the extent of which range will serve to 

 indicate that something more is requisite than 

 a blind acquiescence in any acknowledged re- 

 ceipt, or invariable form. Thus far as regards 

 the account of aloes generally ; we shall pre- 

 sently advert to them more particularly. For 

 the formation of physic-balls, and the quanti- 

 ties required, see List of Medicines. 



When it is thought proper to give mercu- 

 rial physic for worms or skin affections, two 

 drachms of calomel may be given in a mash 

 the night previous, first mixed with a table- 

 spoonful of flour. This, by lying all night in 

 the horse, may, perhaps, assist its efficacy, par- 

 ticularly in case of worms ; and the aloetic 

 ball may be given the next morning; recol- 

 lecting, at the same time, that it should be 

 something less strong, on account of the calo- 

 mel already administered. In giving physic, 

 the intestines should always be prepared by 

 bran mashes, which should be given two or 

 three days previously ; nor, indeed, should the 

 physic be ever administered until the stools 

 present some appearance of softening. The 

 first dose given to an animal with whose con- 

 stitution we are not well acquainted, should 

 be a very mild one ; for, as we have before re- 

 marked, some horses being so much more easily 

 purged than others, it is necessary to use dis- 

 cretion ; and if the dose does not operate, it 

 can do no harm. 

 332 



Exercise is of the greatest importance in 

 physicking; but not to the severity of either 

 trotting or galloping. Brisk and continued 

 walking is all that ought to be allowed. Half 

 the quantity of any cathartic, with sufficient of 

 walking exercise, will operate nearly as much 

 as a double dose without ; so that the degree 

 of purging may be always regulated nearly to 

 our wish. When physic does not work kindly, 

 the exercise should be repeated at short inter- 

 vals — say two hours — until it does ; and thea 

 it should be altogether omitted, in case of 

 bringing on fatigue. Chilled water must be 

 given, as it is particularly necessary to recol- 

 lect that ample dilution of the bowels is of 

 the utmost consequence to ensure the physic 

 working kindly. Entice the horse, therefore, 

 to drink by every means ; and on no account 

 forget the necessary precaution of giving him. 

 pure water from a perfectly clean pail. When 

 it is either smoked or greasy, it cannot be ex- 

 pected that an animal possessing a delicate 

 palate will drink. During the working of the 

 physic he should be kept warm, both in the 

 stable and by clothing ; and he must be exer- 

 cised (if in winter) in clothes proportioned to 

 the cold. 



When a purge is to be given, proceed as 

 follows : — After having fed with bran mashes, 

 for a day or two previous to the one in which 

 you intend giving the ball, give the purge the 

 last thing at night, keeping the animal warm. 

 In the morning, when you come to the stable, 

 offer him warm water, or chilled, but not cold. 

 If you take him out to exercise immediately, 

 the medicine, in all probability, will operate in 

 the course of twenty minutes, or half-au-hour. 

 AVhen such is the case, go home at once, and 

 give a handful of the best sweet hay you can 

 procure. This will recruit his spirits, and he 

 will then be able to eat his mash, which give 

 in about an hour after. '^ Cease now to exer- 

 cise, until the physic is what is termed set, 

 when feed in the usual way, until another dose 

 is given. Wliy we recommend giving the 

 medicine at night, is in consequence of its 

 sometimes producing gripes, which generally 

 come on in the night after the morning on 

 which the medicine has been given, and which 

 may cause inflammation of the bowels, and 

 the death of the horse, when no one is present 

 to attend to him. But if the medicine is given 



