99 

 a horse. It is from this cause that purging afreets the 

 constitution infinitely more in a horse than in our- 

 selves: but it does not require ten or twelve days 

 for a horse to recover himself between each dose, as 

 is usually supposed, unless the operation has been 

 Yery severe, which is always hurtful, and unneces- 

 sarv. 



Exercise is of particular importance in physicking ; 

 but I do not recommend very active trotting : brisk 

 and continued walking, or, at most, a very gentle 

 trot, is to be preferred. The importance of exercise 

 is by no means sufficiently considered : half the quan- 

 tity of any purge, with plenty of walking exercise, 

 w ill purge nearly as much as double without ; so that 

 the degree of purging may be always regulated nearly 

 to our wish, and which is a very desirable circum- 

 stance ; but it is again to be observed, tliat fast trot- 

 tinii is not advisable at any time. 



The exercise should be proportioned to the physic's 

 working : it should be continued at sliort intervals of 

 two hours, till it operates favourably, and then may 

 be omitted, as it would tatigue. Cold water should 

 never be allowed; but if the horse will not drink it 

 •warm, it may be cool, but never cold. 



Unless a horse is very open h\ his body, he should 

 always be prepared for physic, one or two days at 

 least before, by bran mashes. 



During tlie working, he should be kept w^^rm ; and 

 he must be exercised (if in winter) in clothes propor- 

 tioned to the cold. 



A purge is to be given thus:— A horse having fasted 

 an hour or tw o in the morning, the bail is to be 

 given him ; after which he should be offered some 



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