72 DOCTORING. 



An excellent physic ball for a horse is made of powdered 

 Barbadoes aloes, seven drachms, powdered gentian, two 

 drachms, and sufficient s}Tup to stick it into a hard ball. The 

 ball should be three or four times as long as its diameter. 

 When a horse has been physicked severely he should not 

 have any hard exercise for several days, but should be walked 

 a little every day and allowed to stand in the sun. Bran 

 mashes should take the place of his regular ration for three 

 feeds, water often, but sparingly, even if thirsty. 



Condition powders for horses are not only expensive and 

 undesirable, but frequently unsafe as well. Recent analyses 

 of condition powders selling by the package at the rate of 

 ^i,ooo per ton, have been found to contain linseed meal 

 principally, with small quantities of camphor and other 

 drugs, more or less harmful, in var^-ing amounts, the mix- 

 ture not costing the manufacturers over S28 to $30 per ton. 

 As a natural tonic for the system, the safest and best condi- 

 tion powder peraiissible under all conditions is good food, 

 perhaps placing linseed meal at the head of the list of grains. 

 It imparts strength and tone to the system, nourishing the 

 nerves as well as the muscles, acting like a gentle laxative 

 upon the bowels, mellowing the hide, glossing the coat, and 

 removing it betimes in the spring. No prescription is bet- 

 ter than the following, as a rule : Dried sulphate of iron, 

 two drachms, powdered gentian and powdered fenugreek, of 

 each four drachms, all in one powder, to be put in the feed 

 night and morning for three weeks. 



There is danger in using many of the advertised tonics 

 and condition powders wdiich contain arsenic. These bene- 

 fit animals at first, but not permanently. 



How to poultice a horse's leg is often a problem, espe- 

 cially when the poultice must be kept at a point high up or 

 arching. A bag is prepared a little larger than the leg, and 



