1042 DISEASES AND THEIE TKEATMENT. 



wards properly fed, will improve his strength and condition in a 

 remarkable degree. Diuretics carry off the excrementitious mat- 

 ter of the blood by the kidneys, and thereby produce a similar ef- 

 fect, but not in so essential or permanent a manner; for if the sys- 

 tem of feeding, which renders the blood impure, be continued, it 

 will soon return to its original state. Cathartics are always use- 

 ful when the appetite and digestion are bad, and this is known by 

 a voracious oi- depraved appetite, both for food and for water; 

 rumbling of the bowels, and a frequent discharge of wind from 

 the anus. This is the case in a remarkable degree with broken- 

 winded horses, and generally in such as have chronic cough, or 

 are crib-biters. Cathartics should not be given too strong or too 

 frequently, as they may thereby weaken instead of strengthen the 

 digestive organs, and produce the effect they were intended to re- 

 move. Cathartics .should always be made with soap, in the fol- 

 lowing manner, and then, if given upon an empty stomach, they 

 will be carried off, and will not be dissolved until they get into the 

 large bowels, where their effect is intended to be produced : that 

 is, carrying off all the excrementitious matter that may be lodged 

 in them. When given in this way, they never produce sickness 

 or pain in the stomach, but always operate without pain or dan- 

 ger. 



CATHARTIC BALL. 



4 drachms to 1 oz. Barbadoes aloes, powdered, 



3 to 4 drachms hard soap, 



1 drachm ginger, 



1 drachm water, 



10 drops oil of cloves. 

 Beat the soap, oil of cloves, and water together in a mortar, so as to 

 form a paste, and if necessary use more water. This being done, add the 

 powdered aloes and ginger, and beat the whole into a ball. 



Bleeding, or Phlebotomy. 



The operation of blood-letting is now almost discarded in mod- 

 ern practice. It is simple, and can be performed by almost any 

 one with a steady hand. For its performance a fleam and blood- 

 stick are required; the star of the fleam should be large at the 

 shoulder, to make a sufficient opening to allow a free flow of blood, 

 and the blade should be broad, to prevent its sinking in when the 

 vein is deep. The jugular vein of the neck is usually selected to 



