348 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



foundation, I believe, for this opinion : for when horses are 

 brought gradually from green food and the open air to a stable 

 diet and temperature, they bear the change very well. It is not 

 often, however, that horses have all the care and attention paid 

 them that are necessary on such occasions, and therefore two or 

 thixe doses of mild physic generally do good ; probably prevent- 

 ing illness and promoting condition. Physic is useful when a 

 horse appears heavy and feeds badly, and especially if the eyes 

 and mouth arc of a yellowish colour. A horse should be kept 

 chiefly on bran mashes for one, two, or three days before he takes 

 physic* The ball should be given him after fasting a few 

 hours, and no food should be given till two hours after he has 

 taken the physic. He should then have a bi'an mash and a little 

 warm water, and in the afternoon another and some warm water. 

 In the evening another bran mash and one or two pounds of hay, 

 with a little warm water. Next morning, the horse should be 

 exercised with clothing according to the season and weather; 

 and on his return from exercise he should have some warm 

 water and a bran mash. The physic will now begin to work, 

 and its operation must be promoted by a rej^etition of the exer- 

 cise f, warm water, and mash. About the afternoon, a little hay 

 may be given, and some warm water. In the evening a mash 

 and warm water; at night a little hay. The following morning 

 a small quantity of oats may be given : still the water must have 

 the chill taken off, and only a small quantity of hay should be 

 given. The horse may, on the fourth day, be brought to his 

 usual diet. There should be an interval of a week before 

 another dose is given. When a horse is weak, or low in flesh, a 

 handful or two of ground malt or ground oats may be put into 

 each mash. When the physic makes a horse sick, and does not 

 operate at the usual time, that is, the morning after it is given, 

 and especially if he appears griped or in pain, throw up a 

 clyster, and give him a little exercise, which will make the physic 

 work and relieve him. If the physic works too violently, or 

 continues its operation too long, it must not be hastily checked 

 by astringents or cordials; but by giving arrow-root gruel now 

 and then ; and If arrow-root cannot be had, some fine wheat 



the faeces. It also cleans out tlie intestines, and thus removes unhealthy- 

 secretions. By the first purpose it lessens inflammation, and by the two 

 latter it removes superfluous flit and improves the digestive organs, and 

 thereby promotes condition. — Ed. 



* By keeping the horse two or more days on mashes, a lesser dose will be 

 required and tlie same etrect produced with less irritation. Tiie mashes before 

 j)liysic should be cold, as the horse is then not so likely to sicken and refuse 

 the warm mashes which are necessary after the dose has been given. — Ed. 



f The degree of exercise should depend on the operation of the physic : if 

 it operates very little the horse may be trotted, but if it operates freely little 

 or no exercise is required. — Ed. 



