140 ON PHYSIC. 



may be gi\'en in place of his sweat. If it appears 

 that he has become stale, from the work he has been 

 doing, only observe to let him have the brushing gal- 

 lop, usual on the morning previous to his sweat ; and 

 if the time be judiciously chosen by the groom who 

 trains him, the horse will derive great benefit from the 

 operation of it ; for, from the stimulating effects of the 

 physic in promoting the various secretions of the sto- 

 mach, intestines, and the different glands of the body, 

 and from its also increasing, by the aid of exercise, 

 the peristaltic motion of the bowels, the whole mass of 

 those fluids become so rapidly removed by evacuation, 

 as to cause very considerable absorption to take place 

 throughout the whole system. From this circumstance, 

 some little debility will, of course, arise ; but, as the 

 horse is of a strong constitution, and is invariably a 

 good feeder, he soon recovers from the weakness re- 

 sulting from the operation of the medicine. His 

 general habit of body, as well as his legs, will have 

 become much cooled and refreshed ; indeed, it will be 

 perceived very shortly after the physic has begun to 

 work, that the horse's legs have become clean, cool, and 

 in shape ; and, to a certain extent, he is, both inside 

 and out, lightened of his flesh. In those two instances, 

 the physic will, with the exception of two points — 

 length and wind, — have produced the same advantages 

 as a sweat would have done ; and if the horse is after- 

 wards allowed a sufficient time to be at walking exer- 

 cise, merely for him to recover his appetite, he soon 

 becomes invigorated. The change produced on the 



