Physicing: 129 



physicing. 



This is often necessary — but it has injured the consti- 

 tution and destroyed thousands of animals, when unneces: 

 sarily or improperly resorted to. When the horse comes 

 from grass to dry feed, or from the open air to the heat- 

 ed stable, and is becoming too fat, or has surfeit, or grease, 

 or mange, or is out of condition from inactivity of the 

 digestive organs, a dose of physic is serviceable ; but the 

 physicing of all horses, and the too frequent method of 

 exercising the animal when under the operation of physic, 

 cannot be too strongly condemned. 



A horse should be carefully prepared for the action of 

 physic. Mashes should be given until the dung becomes 

 softened. Five drachms of aloes, given when the dung 

 has thus been softened, will act much more effectually 

 and much more safely than seven drachms, when the 

 lower intestines are obstructed by hardened dung. 



On the day on which the physic is given, the horse 

 should have exercise, but after the physic begins to work, 

 he should not be moved from his stall. 



A little hay may be put into the rack. As much mash 

 should be given as the horse will eat, and as much water, 

 with the coldness of it taken off, as he will drink. If he 

 refuses to drink warm water, it is better that he should 

 have it cold, than to continue without taking any fluid ; 

 but in such case he should not be suffered to take more 

 than a quart at a time, with an interval of at least an hour 

 between each draught. The cleansing powder will be 

 found an excellent physic. The Barbadoes aloes, although 

 sometimes very dear, should alone be used. The dose, 

 with a horse properly prepared, will vary from four to 

 seven drachms. 



