AND PHARMACOFCEIA. 453 



flour, with Avliich the horse shoiikl be drenched if he refuse to 

 drink iL Shoukl the purging continue after this, about half an 

 ounce of tincture of opium may be given with a hornful of grueL 



Horses sometimes appear sick, and refuse their food after 

 taking physic, either during the afternoon or evening of the 

 same day, or the following morning. This is generally caused 

 by a neglect of the preparation above directed, by the stomach 

 being loaded at the time the physic is given, or by the hoi'se 

 feeding improperly too soon afterwards ; and not imfrequently 

 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 administered ; nothing more is necessary. Should it 

 continue, however, the following morning let him be again ex- 

 ercised, 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 repeated, which, with a repe- 

 tition of the exercise, will generally produce the desired effect. 

 A horse should be clothed and not ex[)osed to rain or cold wind 

 during the operation of physic ; and when its operation has 

 ceased, he should be gradually brought back to his usual diet 

 and work. 



Gibson, Bracken, and other veterinary authors, have prescx'ibed 

 jalap and cream of tartar in their purging balls. It has been 

 proved, however, that jalap has but little effect on the horse, 

 even in a large dose (see Jalap); and that cream of tartar, 

 which was supposed to prevent griping, by correcting the acri- 

 mony of the aloes, is absolutely useless. The neutral salts, such 

 as sulphate of soda, and sulphate of magnesia (Glauber's and 

 Epsom salts), are sometimes employed by veterinary pi'actitioners, 

 especially in France ; but the large dose required to pi'oduce a 

 purgative effect (seldom less than 12 oz. or 1 lb.), and the diffi- 

 culty and trouble in giving them, prevent their being much used 

 in this country. AVhen a horse can be brought to drink a weak 

 solution of Epsom salts, suppose 1 lb. to a large pail full of 

 water, a diuretic effect is generally pi'oduced, and the dung a 

 little softened ; but when purging is necessary, nothing of the 

 sort should be depended upon. Common salt is an excellent 

 cathartic for cattle, and sometimes requires to be strengthened 

 by three ov four drachms of aloes. The dose of common salt for 

 cattle is the same as for the horse, that is, from four to six ounces 

 in one quart, or more, of whey or water. Cathartics are a most 

 important class of medicines : and of all cathartics Barbadoes 

 aloes is the best. They improve digestion and chylification, by 

 cleansing the intestines and unloading the liver, and if the animal 

 is afterwards properly fed, will improve his strength and condition 

 in a remarkalole degree. Cathartics are always useful when the 



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