104 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



practised by some to an injurious extent, should be 

 avoided. 



It is best to prepare a horse for physic by giving bran 

 mashes, until the dung becomes softened ; then a less 

 quantity of physic will suffice, and it will more readily 

 pass through the intestines, and be more equally diffused 

 over them. Five drachms of aloes will generally be suf- 

 ficient when a horse has been prepared for the physic ; 

 it is equal to seven drachms when the intestines are 

 obstructed by hardened feeces. 



On the day of giving the physic, the horse should have 

 walking exercise, or may be trotted gontly for a quarter 

 of an hour, twice in the day ; but after the physic begins 

 to work, he should not be moved from his stall. Exer- 

 cise then would produce gripes, irritation, and possibly 

 dangerous inflammation. It is an absurd and too com- 

 mon a practice, to give the horse the most exercise after 

 the physic has begun to operate. As much mash may be 

 given as the horse will eat, and as much water, with the 

 coldness taken off, as he will drink. If he refuses warm 

 water, it is better for him to take cold water than to con- 

 tinue without taking any fluid ; but he should take not 

 more than a quart at a time, with intervals of an hour. 



When the purging has ceased, a m.ash should be given 

 once or twice a day, if another dose is to be given, which 

 should be a week from the first. It is best to give mod- 

 erate doses, as in some cases a less dose is required than 

 in others, and then repeat in half or partial doses, at 

 intervals of three, four, six or eight hours, according to 

 circumstances. Be cautious and not carry this too far, 

 nor give too large doses, lest the horse become swelled 

 up and distressed more by the medicine than by the 

 disease. 



Very powerful doses of physic cause lowness and 

 weakness to hang about a horse for many days, or some 

 weeks ; and inflammation will often ensue from over- 

 irritation of the intestinal canal. Aloes is a very sure 

 and safe purgative for a horse, and is used more exten- 

 sively than any other physic, and in preference to any 

 other. The Barbadoes should be preferred. The dose 

 for a horse is from five to seven drachms. It is custom- 



