454 MATERIA MEDIC A 



appetite and digestion are bad, and tliis is known by a voracious 

 or 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-Avinded 

 horses, and generally in such as have chronic cougb, or are crib- 

 biters. Cathartics should not be given too strong or too fre- 

 quently, as they may thereby weaken instead of strengthen the 

 digestive organs, and produce the effect they Avere intended^ to 

 remove. Cathartics may be made with soap, in the following 

 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. AYhen given in this way they never produce sickness 

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

 danger. 



CATHARTIC BALL. 



Barbadoes aloes, powxiered 4 drs. to 7 drs. 



Hard soap 2 to 3 drs. 



Ginger 1 dr. 



Water 1 dr. 



Oil of cloves 10 drops. 



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

 so as to form a paste ; if necessary use more water. This being 

 done, add the powdered aloes and ginger, and beat the whole 

 into a ball. 



I have seen much harm done by strong doses of physic, and 

 have often found the weakest dose, even half an ounce of aloes 

 with the other ingredients, produce an excellent effect. 



Other formula3 for cathartics have been given in former edi- 

 tions, but they differ only from the above in containing some 

 other essential oil, such as oil of caraways or anise-seeds, and in 

 being made by means of syrup ; some of them contained also 

 soda, but soap is preferable, and the formula I have now given 

 is the best that can be employed. When wanted as an anthel- 

 mintic, a drachm of calomel may be given the preceding night, 

 or added to the ball. Stomachic purgatives are made by adding 

 rhubarb, Colombo, or cascarilla to a small dose of aloes ; but I 

 am inclined to believe that whenever the state of the stomach 

 and bowels is such as to require a cordial or warm cathartic, 

 opium is the best cordial that can be employed for the purpose. 



Stomachics may be given, if I'equired, after the operation of 

 the cathartic. (See Stomachics.) Horses are more easily 

 purged in the moulting season than at other times, particularly 

 in September. At these times the bowels are weak, and a small 



