18 MODERN FARRIER. 



quence ensue. Hence the folly of giving strong 

 medicines unnecessarily. It is but justice, however, 

 to observe, that Mr. John Lawrence is of opinion, 

 that the mischief done by purges is to be attributed 

 to the coarseness of the medicine, rather than to its 

 purging effect. 



Some practitioners recommend purges to be given 

 in the morning, when the horse is to be allowed to 

 fast an hour. He is then to receive about two 

 handfuls of hay, after which the ball is to be given, 

 which is to be followed by a horn fidl of warm ale 

 or water-gruel. He is then to fast another hour, 

 when he is to be allowed a moderate quantity of 

 hay. He should have all his drink a little warm, 

 should be walked about gently during the remain- 

 der of the day, and should have a warm mash of 

 bran at night. Next day, he is to be again mode- 

 rately exercised till the purge begins to operate, 

 and, if the weather is severe, he must be covered 

 with body-clothes ; but the stable should not be too 

 warm when he returns. 



Violent exercise, either before or after adminis- 

 tering a purge, is highly dangerous, and frequently 

 gives rise to fatal diseases. 



15. Preparing Medicine. 



Before any medicine be administered to animals, 

 it is necessary to ascertain the nature of the disease, 

 as well as the effect and quality of the drugs used. 

 Horses' powders are often much adulterated, and 

 should be purchased only from such druggists as 

 enjoy a good reputation. Seeds, when once pow- 

 dered, soon lose their quality : they should therefore 

 be purchased in their original state. The same rule 

 should be observed in buying roots, barks, and 

 gums. In making up the following recipes, troy 

 weight is used, and wine measure in what relates to 

 liquids. 



