EFFECTS OF USING PHYSIC. 223 



from the poison by diluting it and extending the surface 

 on which it acts. 



The loss of blood is made up by the absorbing vessels. 

 They first commence operations on the fat, which under- 

 goes a change, and acquires a resemblance to blood. This, 

 do far, might be of service by removing the superfluities 

 which are in the way of rapid locomotion ; but, unfortu- 

 nately, it does not end here. The superpurgation, that 

 almost invariably follows this course, is so debiliating that 

 much valuable time is lost in re-establishing the health. 

 As an evidence that there has been injury done, the horse 

 that was in good spirits before, and had a hearty appetite, 

 becomes dull and refuses his food. The sickness and de- 

 jection usually passes off when purging takes place, and 

 the intestines have become relieved of the foreign matter. 

 There have been numerous instances of horses being killed 

 by the operation of violent cathartics, though not even 

 then will the practitioner admit his error, and will ascribe 

 the fatal result to the want of constitution in the animal, 

 not to the virulence of the drug. The question may be 

 asked, " How then will you train a horse overloaded with 

 flesh, with legs that are swollen from plethoric habit, and 

 which is naturally not strong enough to stand the work 

 necessary to have him trot fast in a short period of time?" 

 It would be much better not to subject such an animal to 

 hard work until we had taken time to bring him by de- 

 grees to where he could endure, without injury, the exer- 

 tion of getting lid of the superfluities. Blood-letting, 

 purging and sweating, are the means used by all trainers 

 to accomplish the reduction of the subject. If we discard 

 the first two, are we not likely to do as serious injury by 

 depending entirely on the latter? One thing has been 

 received as an axiom by all of those who have the manage- 

 ment of horses ; viz., that no curtailment of food is ad- 

 missible. Admitting the truth of the old adage, that the 



