ON PHYSIC. 133 



contained in the first. Nor is this a very unreasonable 

 conclusion for a man to make who is unacquainted 

 with the properties of medicine. It is in consequence 

 - of this treatment, that a groom has now and then been 

 so unfortunate as to have a horse die in physic, which 

 arises from his ignorance of the effect of the aloes on 

 the constitution, when the quantity is increased beyond 

 that which is generally given at one time, to purge 

 such a horse. When the aloes, being increased to the 

 extent above mentioned, begin to operate, the action is 

 sometimes continued in proportion to the quantity 

 given, and by stimulating so large a surface as that of 

 the intestines of the horse for so great a length of time, 

 and to such excess, the powers and constitution are 

 not able to support it. The general consequence is, 

 great debility and irritation, sometimes followed by in- 

 flammation of the bowels, which occasions the death 

 of the horse. This has at times occurred to some 

 grooms, from their having relied too much on the 

 power of medicine alone, to purge a strong horse, and 

 merely preparing him for his physic in the usual way, 

 by giving him mashes the day previous, with a view 

 to relax the bowels, and then the first thing on the 

 following morning administering the whole of the dose 

 at once, mixing therein a very large portion of aloes, 

 for the reason and under the impression which I have 

 already pointed out. Now, the common method of 

 preparing the horse, and giving the physic, would be 

 very proper to one which may be easily purged, and 

 which required but a moderate portion of aloes to pro- 



