86 ON THE DISTEMPER. 



When a horse first becomes affected with this disease, 

 if, at the time, he is standing in the stable with other 

 horses, he should immediately be removed to a well- 

 ventilated loose box. A good bed should be given to 

 him, and he should be comfortably clothed. The next 

 step to be taken is bleeding ; but, as the disease is so 

 often followed by debility, neither bleeding nor purg- 

 ing should be carried to too great an extent. The 

 quantity of blood taken should be regulated according 

 to the age, size, constitution, and condition of the 

 horse, together with the appearance of the symptoms 

 under which he labours. When a horse in good con- 

 dition, or perhaps lusty, is labouring under the effects 

 of the distemper, provided he be immediately attended 

 to, no great debility will have taken place. In which 

 case, the horse may be bled with safety to the extent 

 of five pints or three quarts, only observing to attend 

 to his age, constitution, &c. The next thing is to get 

 the horse's bowels gently relaxed, but brisk purging 

 must be avoided. If the horse should be a flighty, deli- 

 cate one, the better way of relaxing his bowels, is by 

 giving him a pint of castor oil ; but, if he should be 

 such a horse as, in training, is termed " a hearty one," 

 the more effectual way of relaxing his bowels, is by 

 adding aloes to his oil, in the following proportions — 

 Barbadoes aloes . 2 drachms 

 Castor oil ... 6 ounces 

 Dissolve the aloes in four ounces of warm water, then 

 add the oil. There is a third description of horse, 

 which, in training, is called " a craving one." It is, at 



