1040 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



may also be seriously injured in this way. In violent colds, 

 strangles, etc., there is often so much soreness of the throat as to 

 render swallowing very painful and difficult; in such cases, neither 

 balls nor drenches should be given, as they are sure to do mischief 

 by irritating the throat, and may even suffocate the animal by 

 getting into the windpipe. 



PHYSICKING. 



It is always best, if possible, to prepare the horse for physic by 

 giving a bran mash twenty -four hours previously, as the medicine 

 will act more favorably, and there is less danger of superpurga- 

 tion. Five drachms of aloes (Barbadoes aloes are always used for 

 horses) will act as forcibly after a mash as seven without. Again, 

 the quantity of physic should be adapted to age and size. The 

 rule is to give one drachm for each year up to seven. Eight 

 drachms is the largest given at one dose. 



PHYSIC 1 BA.LL. 



7 drachms Barbadoes aloes, pulverized, 

 4 drachms bar soap, 

 1 drachm ginger. 



The usual way is to mix the ingredients in this proportion, then reduce 

 to the weight intended, and give. 



For Alternative Balls simply give from one to two or three 

 drachms of mass, as above prepared, two or three times a week, for 

 a week or two. The following are the details advised : 



The horse should be fed with bran mashes for two or three 

 days, and have moderate but regular exercise, or be worked with 

 moderation. He should be allowed only a moderate quantity of 

 hay, especially if he has a voracious appetite; and if inclined to 

 eat his litter, he should be prevented by a muzzle, or by being tied 

 up to the rack in the day-time, or what is still better, by having 

 his litter removed during the day, and by applying the muzzle at 

 night after he has eaten his allowance of ha)?. If in low condi- 

 tion, some oats may be mixed with the bran mashes ; but eight to 

 ten pounds of good hay are a sufficient allowance for a day and 

 night. On the morning when the physic is given, neither hay nor 

 mashes should be allowed, until two or three hours after it has 

 been taken. Some practitioners, however, direct a small, thin 

 mash of bran only, to be given about an hour after, for the pur- 



