G04 OF PURGATIVES, AND PHYSICKING OF HORSES. 



drachm of calomel may be given the evening previous, by 

 sprinkling the powder on the tongue. This, by lying all 

 night in the horse, may, perhaps, assist the efficacv, if the 

 aloetic ball be given the next morning ; keeping in mind 

 it should be less strong on account of the calomel ad- 

 ministered. However calomel is best exhibited blended 

 with the aloes, when for every scruple of the first it will be 

 necessary to abstract a drachm of the last. 



Treatment connected with physicking. — The intestines 

 should always be prepared for this operation bv bran 

 mashes, and which should be given the three previous days. 

 The first dose given to every horse, with which we are not 

 well acquainted, should be a very mild one ; for some horses 

 are much more easily purged than others, and if the dose 

 does not operate, it can do no harm. Exercise is of particular 

 importance in physicking ; but w^e would earnestly caution 

 the attendants against active trotting or galloping : brisk 

 and continued walking is all that ought to be allowed. 

 Cold water should never be allowed, but, if the horse will 

 not drink it warm, it may be given cool, but never cold : 

 on this particular it is also necessary to observe, that ample 

 dilution of the bowels is of the utmost consequence to 

 insure physic working freely. During the working of the 

 physic the horse should be kept warm within the stable, 

 and by the clothing ; and he must be exercised (if in winter) 

 in clothes proportioned to the cold. When a purge is to be 

 given, proceed as follows : — the horse having fasted an hour 

 or tw^o in the morning, give him the ball, after which he 

 should be offered some warm water ; or it will not be im- 

 proper to let him have his ball a quarter of an hour after 

 he has had about half his usual quantity of water ; for it 

 sometimes happens that the ball disgusts, and then he will 

 not drink for some hours. After it is taken, he should 

 fast another hour, when a bran mash may be given, with 

 a very few oats sprinkled on it, to make it palatable : he 

 should, at noon, be walked for an hour, with mash feeding 

 afterwards ; and exercised again an hour in the evening, 

 being allowed w-arm or tepid water at intervals during the 

 day, with hay and a bran mash again tow^ards night. Early 

 on the following morning the physic will probably begin to 

 work, which, if it does freely, no more exercise need be 



