Oti the Yellow JVater of Horses, 143 



per day. Gruelj when the horse could take nothing 

 else for his sustenance, was given in drenches frequent- 

 ly. Injections, to produce speedy evacuations, com- 

 posed of any thing cooling and laxative, are very useful. 

 I used a decoction of the black snake 7'oot and peach 

 leaves, with oily shad pickle, salt, soap and molasses, at 

 difterent times, and in various combinations. Breiver''s 

 yeast, was also plentifully given, in drenches and clys- 

 ters. All my sick horses, one excepted, took some ca- 

 lomel. To the one recovered, the mercury was admi- 

 nistered, in various ways. It was given in balls, licked 

 in Avith salt, and mercurial ointment rubbed in, near the 

 region of the liver. This horse, by the advice of an ex- 

 perienced friend, was rowelled and blistered. As soon 

 as the blisters (produced by the potatoe JIt/ ; fLytta vit^ 

 tataj a most powerful vesicatory) rose, he began to sa- 

 livate freely, shewed evident signs of recovery; and 

 continued mending from that moment. 



The first purges should consist of aloes and calomel; 

 two ounces at least, of the former, and two drachms, of 

 the latter, with half an ounce of creme of tartar.^ If the 

 clysters are rejected, the rectum should be raked by a 

 small hand and arm ; and the indurated foeces removed. 

 I am confident that rowels and blisters are very efficaci- 

 ous, as auxiliaries. The rowels were fixed between 

 the fore legs : the blisters on the soft parts, under the 

 belly and throat. The short hairs were shaved off, to 



=^ The bile being acrid and calculated to stimulate and pro- 

 mote the peristaltic motion of the intestines, acids should not 

 be used too plentifully. Some distinguish between mineral 

 imd vegetable acids, in bilious cases. 



