462 MATEKIA MEDIC A 



portioning the allowance to the hoi'se's labour ; and thirdly, by 

 giving too much at a time, and hindering digestion by putting 

 the horse to work immediately after feeding, or by feeding irre- 

 gularly, or not observing a proper method of distributing the 

 daily allowance of food. The use of cordials, on such occasions, 

 is to give temporary energy to the stomach and bowels, and 

 enable them to dischai'ge their laborious duties. But how is 

 this done ? by an unnatural excitement of the nervous system. 

 The other circumstance which renders cordials necessary is 

 immoderate work, which is of a more serious nature than 

 improper feeding. It is a moral evil ; and, if duly reflected 

 upon, will, I trust, be seen in that light. When we consider 

 the form of the horse, it appears evident that he was intended 

 for the service of man ; and it is equally clear, in a moral light, 

 tlmt it is the duty of man to treat him with kindness, and exact 

 no more labour from him than is consistent with his health. 

 Feeding him luxuriously is no excuse for working him unfairly, 

 nor is there any advantage in it ; for although we may thereby 

 render him capable for a time of wonderful exertions, yet we 

 shorten his life, and interrupt his abridged period of service by 

 bringing upon him various diseases. It is often thought that a 

 liberal allowance of oats and beans, a warm stable, good groom- 

 ino-, and a comfortable bed, will compensate for excessive labour: 

 such management may enable the animal to do more than he 

 otherwise could; but the power of the stomach is limited, and 

 so is that of the muscular and nervous systems; so that, if we 

 make an unfair demand upon them, and it is answered, their 

 power is the sooner exhausted. About half a pint to a pint of 

 good strong beer, or ale, with a little ginger grated into it, forms 

 an useful cordial. A wine-glass full of brandy in half a pint of 

 water is stronger, and may, on some occasions, be more viseful, 

 than beer; but I wish to impress on the reader, or rather to 

 propose to him as a subject for consideration, that whenever a 

 cordial appears necessary, we should give no more, or one of 

 no greater strength, than is sufficient to produce the desired 

 effect; and it will be found, I think, that a much better effect 

 may be produced by three or four small doses or weak cordials 

 than by giving only one large dose. 



CORDIALS. 



No. 1. From half a pint to a pint of the best old mild beer, 

 with a little grated ginger. 



No. 2. Best Cognac brandy 2 to 4 ozs. 



Warm water 6 to 12 ozs. 



No. 3. Anodyne carminative tincture. (See 



Anodynes) 2 ozs. 



Water 6 or 8 ozs. 



