i6i 



should be done twice a week and kept up until the eighth 

 week. There are yet two months in which to get him ready 

 for the great race in which he is entered. He has got along 

 nicely until this time, and there is no change in his condition. 

 Even if the horse is perfectly healthy and still is gross, 

 he should have a ball, which will loosen him up and cool 

 him off, as well as act as a tonic. During the twenty-four 

 hours preceding the giving of the medicine at least two 

 mashes should be given. This prepares him to receive the 

 ball. 



A ball consists of five drachms of fresh Barbados aloes, 

 one drachm of calomel, half drachm of rhubarb, half drachm 

 of ginger, mixed and worked into a ball or pill. Roll it in a 

 little flour, so it will not stick to the hands, and in the event 

 there is no veterinary near, it is always best to insert a ball- 

 ing iron, so the horse cannot bite you. Be sure to get the 

 ball back of the tongue, holding the tongue with the left 

 hand. Release the tongue and down goes the ball. 



This operation should be done at eight o'clock in the 

 morning, and the horse should be placed in a stall with a 

 muzzle on, to prevent his eating. At eight o'clock the next 

 morning the horse should show some symptoms of its act- 

 ing. In the case there is no evidence of its acting, the horse 

 should be walked or trotted to bring about such an action. 

 After the medicine shows its effects, begin to check him. 

 The idea is to get the medicine properly diffused into the 

 system. Feed him some dry hay or oats. Often a horse 

 will eat hay when he will not eat anything else. It is just 

 as important to get the medicine out of a horse as it is to 

 get it into him. The idea is not to purge a horse violently, 

 for it may make him sick for six months at a time. Careless 

 and incompetent trainers will bring about this state of af- 

 fairs nine times out of ten, and they should not attempt it 

 unless they know just what they are doing. 



For forty-eight hours after the medicine has been ad- 

 ministered and the purging has stopped, the horse should 

 be kept in a stall where the temperature is even, so he will 

 not take cold and become weakened in any manner. Then 

 he should begin to eat regularly again. 



At first, upon taking him out on the track, he should be 

 simply walked around for a few days and then gradually 



