56 PHYSIC. 



most will partake of tlie mess if it be flavored by tlie admixture of a 

 little salt or a few crushed oats. 



So it is, also, with water. Certain horses, when feeding upon bran 

 mashes, refuse all drink ; others enjoy frequent draughts of cold fluid ; 

 while a third set seem to crave warm water ; and a fourth will neither 

 imbibe freely nor entirely abstain, being wholly indifi"erent as to the tem- 

 perature of the liquid. Thus the order, which is inserted in most books, 

 to give to the horse, after the animal has swallowed a dose of aloes, copi- 

 ous draughts of warm water, is frequently rendered futile; for, as the 

 proverb teaches, "one man may lead the horse to the pond, but forty 

 men cannot make the quadruped drink." 



Bran mashes, however, will act without the aid of repeated doses of 

 warm fluid. Of themselves they do not debilitate, though from the length 

 and size of the horse's intestines, purgation cannot be long maintained 

 without inducing serious exhaustion ; and it is never safe to work the 

 animal while any looseness is observable. A tendency to inflammation 

 is often announced by repeated and liquid discharges ; therefore, never 

 let the horse be taken out while the bowels are in a state of excitement, 

 for exercise may increase that action to one of positive disease. Bran 

 mashes, however, are the safest and the gentlest of laxatives. Any con- 

 dition may be induced, according to the number and frequency of the 

 potions. In general, they act mildly, without inducing that bodily dis- 

 comfort and that constitutional weakness which throws the animal out 

 of condition and renders rest an absolute necessity for recovery. Alto- 

 gether, these mixtures are the best and the safest laxative of the stable ; 

 but even these should never be administered to the horse without the 

 special direction of the proprietor. 



On the other hand, aloes can, in no form, be administered to some 

 horses. Yery many cannot receive a full dose of the drug. Several 

 can only with safety swallow the medicine when highly spiced or in 

 solution. While a few are all but insensible to the action of the agent. 

 Alarming spasms often follow the exhibition of a moderate quantity of 

 aloes, which always renders the quadruped sickly ere the effects are visi- 

 ble. The drug, in most instances, hes dormant twenty-four hours ; during 

 which period the appetite is lost, the spirits oppressed, the coat dull, and 

 the entire, system evidently shaken. It is not esteemed prudent to work 

 the patient till several days' rest have been allowed for its restoration. 



It used once to be the custom to trot the animal which was sickening 

 under a dose of aloes ; but experience has shown the danger of the habit. 

 The horse is now left in the stable, has an extra rug thrown upon the 

 back, while a pail of warm water is in most instances placed in the 

 manger. Where safe, it is obviously unnecessary to ride the quadruped 



