G02 OF PURGATIVES, AND PHYSICKING OF HORSES. 



tive to them. Of the aloe varieties two are principally in 

 use ; the Barbadoes and the Cape. The Barbadoes are 

 somewhat quicker and stronger in their action, and conse- 

 quently rather more drastic in their operation than the Cape ; 

 therefore in some cases they are not to be preferred. Bat 

 they are in general more certain in their action than the 

 Cape. Cape aloes are commonly thought to be milder and 

 weaker ; it is usual, therefore, to consider, that a dose of 

 physic, which requires six drachms of Barbadoes, should 

 necessitate seven drachms of Cape aloes. The quantity 

 requisite to produce purging is dependent on so many cir- 

 cumstances, that it is no wonder it should be so often mis- 

 managed. Horses do certainly vary greatly in their in- 

 trinsic capability of being acted on by purgatives, but much 

 more in the circumstances under which they are given. 

 Mr. Coleman, in his lectures, mentions a horse of his own 

 that would purge by taking three drachms only of Cape 

 aloes : while Mr. Percivall quotes a horse which belonged 

 to Mr. O 'Conner, which at three years old required fourteen 

 drachms to purge its bowels. These facts serve to show 

 the propriety of prescribing a very moderate quantity only 

 as the first dose for a horse with whose constitutional pecu- 

 liarities we are unacquainted. The requisite quantity is also 

 greatly dependent on various other circumstances ; old 

 horses, and such as are constantly fed on hard meat, require 

 more than others ; while horses eating green meat purge 

 with a very mild dose ; and in all, by mashing three times 

 a day for several days, we may make four drachms do the 

 work of eight. This, we repeat, shows the extreme im- 

 portance of previous preparation for all horses ; but more 

 particularly for weakly horses, and also such as have been 

 previously accustomed to much home diet. Form also 

 influences the quantity requisite ; a thin, narrow-chested 

 horse, will purge more readily than a circular deep-carcassed 

 one. It may be considered, therefore, that the quantities 

 required to purge horses range between four and eight 

 drachms ; the extent of which range will serve to show that 

 something more is requisite than a blind acquiescence in 

 any invariable form. 



The croton tiglium is a purgative of new discovery. In 

 its action it is certain only in producing motions much more 



