108 



It has been the opinion of fome modern veteri- 

 narians, that purging is not fo neceffary to horfes 

 as it has been thought; but though there is reafon to 

 think that purging is often made ufe of when unne- 

 ceflary, yet this opinion has led into error; for horfes 

 are, in many cafes, more benefitted by purging than 

 an}' other animal; and it is certain that they can- 

 not be got into condition fo readily by any other 

 mode. But one thing is likewife certain, and al- 

 lowed by all who conlider the fubjec^ attentively, 

 that there is no occafion, in any cafe, for the violent 

 purges grooms and farriers commonly make ufe of; 

 on the contrary, they, in all cafes, do much mif- 

 chief, weakening the ftomach and bowels, and even 

 the conftitution, for a great length of time, and not 

 unfrequently prove fatal. 



Horfes are purged to bring them into what is 

 termed condition ; that is, into a ftate in which they 

 are fitted to undergo adive exercife, having wind 

 enough to render it eafy to them, and ftrength 

 enough to continue it. Purges are given likewife to 

 remove worms : in this cafe they fhould be tolerably 

 ftrong, to diflodge them, if poffible ; and it is thought 

 mercurial phyfic is particularly adapted both to kill 

 and remove worms. Phyfic is given to remove fwell- 

 ings from the legs, or other parts of the body. It 

 produces this effedl by purging out the fluids of the 

 ftoraach and bowels, by which means the abforbing 



