9S 

 cases, do much mischief, weakening the stomach and 

 bowels, and even the constitution, for a great length 

 of time, and they not unfrequently prove fatal. 



Horses are purged to bring them into what is 

 termed condition ; that is, into a state in which they 

 are fitted to undergo active exercise, having wind 

 enough to render it easy to them, and strength 

 enough to continue it. Purges are given likewise to 

 remove worms : in this case the dose should be to- 

 lerably strong, to dislodge them, if possible ; and it 

 is thought mercurial physic is particularly adapted 

 both to kill and remove worms. Physic is given to 

 remove swellings from the legs, or other parts of the 

 body. It produces this eifect by purging out the 

 fluids of the stomach and bowels, by which means 

 the absorbing vessels remove the fluid from the legs 

 to make up the deficiency. Purges are given to re- 

 move too great fat, the fat being one of the fluids; 

 and the body becomes absorbed to supply the waste 

 occasioned by the purging : thus the fat that was too 

 redundant, and hindered the lungs from expanding 

 and the muscles from contracting, is removed; and 

 hence the horse becomes more vigorous and lasting, 

 and his wind strengthened; — and this is called being 

 in condition. 



Horses are, some of them, purged more easily 

 than others : hence the first purge should be mild ; 

 for, if it does not operate, it does no harm, though it 

 is often erroneously supposed so to do. 



From the horizontal position of the body, and the 

 long track of intestines, witii tiieir peculiar structure, 

 it requires not only a medicine of coiisidcrable 

 strength, but likewise it requires a long time to purge 



