76 PEEPAEATION FOR PHYSIC. 



without "water and food, until six or seven o'clock in tlie evening, 

 wlien the purgative is given. In half an hour after its 

 administration, allow the horse as much chilled water as he will 

 drink, then a good sized mash ; after which he may be bedded 

 down, and left for the night. The morning following, if the 

 purging has not commenced, give at once more lukewarm 

 water, and exercise the horse until it is fully established, which 

 is rarely very long, — generally I may say within an hour from 

 being taken ont of the stable. The bowels being acted upon, 

 place the animal as speedy as possible within the stable, and let 

 him remain there uatil the purging wholly subsides, which may 

 be facilitated, if the horse wdll drink frequently of chilled water 

 or warm gruel. The food allowed during the action of the drug 

 may be of the ordinary kind, but the corn given, is better if 

 previously boiled. The diet in short, should consist of chilled 

 water, or gruel, or both ; also boiled oats, bran, and hay ; and 

 nnder no circumstances of an ordinary character, ought the 

 animal to be again exercised, or worked, or taken out of the 

 stable, until the purging ceases, which may be one or two days 

 after its commencement. It is dangerous to exert horses when 

 under the influence of purgative medicine ; to do so, may be 

 productive of results of a fatal character. 



The best purgative for horses is Barbadoes Aloe. The 

 quantity necessary for a dose will depend upon circumstances ; 

 such as the susceptibility of the horse to the action of the drug, 

 the genuineness of the aloe, and the time allowed to prepare the 

 bowels for its action. Some horses are far more sensitive to 

 the effects of aloe than others. Washy horses are usualty of 

 this nature ; instances, however, occur where this kind of horse 

 does not prove so sensitive to the action of purgatives, and 

 instances also occur of horses of a very robust constitution 

 being exceedingly sensitive to their use. The only means. 



