PHYSICKING. ■ 104X 



pose of dissolving or mixing- with the physic. This, however, is 

 unnecessary, though supposed to render the effect milder and more 

 expeditious. But this is not the case; physic should be given fast- 

 ing. During the day the horse may have walking exercise for 

 about half an hour, and once only, and be fed with bran mashes, 

 and have the chill taken off his water. Grooms generally con- 

 sider exercise unnecessary or improper on the day the physic is 

 given; and on the following day, when the medicine generally 

 operates, they are apt to give too much exercise. But as soon as 

 the purging has taken place in a sufficient degree, which is genei- 

 ally the case about the afternoon of the day after it is taken, ex- 

 ercise is unnecessary and improper. And should the purging con- 

 tinue, or be found to be going on the following morning (that is, 

 on the morning of the third day, including tliat on which the 

 medicine was given), it should be restrained by gruel made of ar- 

 row-root or fine wheat flour, with which the horse should be 

 drenched if he refuses to drink it. Should the purging continue 

 after this, about half an ounce of tincture of opium may be given 

 with a little gruel. 



Horses sometimes appear sick, and refuse their food, after tak- 

 ing physic, either during the afternoon or evening of the same 

 day, or the following morning. This is generally caused by a neg- 

 lect of the preparation above directed, by the stomach being 

 loaded at the time the physic is given, or by the horse feeding im- 

 properly too soon afterwards ; and not unf requently by the physic 

 being too strong. When this sickness is observed, the horse should 

 have walking exercise ; and if it be on the same day the physic is 

 taken, and the uneasiness be considerable, let a clyster be admin- 

 istered ; nothing more is necessary. Should it continue, however, 

 the following mornuig let him be again exercised, and have some 

 water with the chill off ; and if the purging does not come on, and 

 he appears to make fruitless efforts to dung, let the clyster be re- 

 peated, which, with a repetition of the exercise, will generally 

 pi'oduce the desired effect. A horse should be clothed, and not 

 exposed to rain or cold wind during the operation of physic; and 

 when its operation has ceased, he should be gradually brought 

 bads to his usual diet and work. 



Cathartics improve digestion and chylification by cleansing 

 the intestines and unloading the liver, and if the animal is after- 



66 



