PHYSIC. 55 



intestines mucli more gently, and with altogether more safety ; but the 

 stable cannot, therefore, afford to part with its favorite representative o^ 

 the many forms of medicine. Bran mashes, four of these being given 

 daily, it is well known, will relax the animal's system ; but the groom 

 employs these agents merely as preparatory to the favorite dose of 

 aloes ; and, though repeated mashes will induce purgation in the equine 

 patient, the groom is never satisfied unless that result be aggravated by 

 a dose of aloes. 



The horse's body does not quickly respond to opening medicine ; but 

 the action, once elicited, is not invariably easy to command. The ani- 

 mal's life is frequently a prey to a potent purgative. The veterinarian 

 knows that the different creatures vary much in their capability of swal- 

 lowing amounts of aloes; that the dose which will not move one quad- 

 ruped may destroy the inhabitant of the next stall. One creature will 

 imbibe two ounces of the drug without marked effect ; another will be 

 shaken by the action of less than half an ounce of the preparation. 

 Nevertheless, the stable-man always craves for aloes, and always expe- 

 riences an odd delight when watching for its hydragogue operation. 



The farmers in Norfolk are strongly tainted with the superstition of the 

 London mews. They also crave for aloes, and the youthful veterinary 

 surgeon frequently yields to the demand. Young practitioners delight 

 in strong doses. Accordingly, a full dose of aloes is sent to the Norfolk 

 farmer, and by him rammed down the throat of some unfortunate team- 

 ster. The next time the novice encounters his customer, the man of the 

 diploma is greeted with "Hey, doctor! doctor! what beautiful physic 

 that were you sent for Slyboots I Oh ! how it did work the poor thing, 

 to be sure ! If anything could have saved the beast, that must have 

 done ! But the time were up, and he died of a powerful inflammation. 

 Thanke, thanke, doctor ! Let's have your bill !" 



This is the more lamentable when we consider that in nine cases out 

 of ten, or rather in twenty -nine out of thirty, the administration of aloes 

 is unnecessary. In the great majority of cases, its place could be advan- 

 tageously supplied by bran mashes, which are readily made according to 

 the following receipt : Put a peck of bran into a perfectly clean stable- 

 pail. One person should stir the bran as briskly as possible, while 

 another person, with speed, empties a suflSciency of boiling water into 

 the pail to render the contents a pultaceous mass. The vessel is then 

 covered up, and when it has become cool, the pudding is thrown into 

 the manger. 



However, one horse shall devour bran mashes with avidity, another 

 will not touch them. This will not partake of the potion unless it be 

 partially warmj another will not eat until it is perfectly cold; while 



