VETERINARY OPERATIONS. 247 



Irom too full a habit, &c. &c. It is not advisable to physic horses 

 in either very cold or very warm weather. Strong physic is always 

 hurtful ; all that physic can do is as well operated by a mild as by 

 a strong dose, with infinitely less hazard. No horse should be 

 physicked whose bowels have not been previously prepared by 

 mashing for two days at least before. By these means the physic 

 will work kindly, and a moderate quantity only is requisite. Most 

 of the articles put into the purging balls for horses, to assist the 

 aloes, are useless. Jalap will not purge a horse, nor rhubarb either. 

 Aloes are the only proper drug to be depended on for this purpose, 

 and of all the varieties of aloes the socotorine and Cape are the best. 

 (Vet. Pha. 163.) Barbadoes aloes are also not improper, but are 

 thought more rough than the socotorine. For formulae of purging 

 balls, see Vet. Pha. (163.) Blaine gives the following as the process : 



124. Physicking process. The horse having fasted an hour or two 

 in the morning from food, but having had his water as usual, give 

 him his purge, and two hours after offer him a little chilled, but not 

 warm water, as is often done, by which horses are disgusted from 

 taking any ; it may be here remarked that in this particular much 

 error is frequently committed. Many horses will" drink water with 

 the chill taken off, provided it be perfectly clean, and do not smell 

 of smoke from the fire, kettle or sauce-pan ; but few, very few, will 

 drink warm or hot water ; and still fewer, if it be in the least degree 

 greasy or smoky. After the ball has been given two hours, a warm 

 bran mash may be offered, and a very little hay. He should have 

 walking exercise as usual moderately clothed ; and altogether he 

 should be kept rather warmer than usual. At noon mash again, 

 and give a little hay, which should be repeated at night, giving him 

 at intervals chilled water. On the following morning the physic 

 may be expected to work ; which if it do briskly, keep the horse 

 quiet ; but should it not move his bowels, or only relax them, walk 

 him quietly half an hour, which will probably have the desired 

 effect. Continue to give mashes and warm water, repeating them 

 every two or three hours to support him. When physic gripes a 

 horse, give a clyster of warm water, and hand rub the belly, as well 

 as walk him out. If the griping prove severe, give him four ounces 

 of gin in half a pint of strong ale, which will soon relieve him. On 

 the next day the physic will probably set, but should it continue to 

 work him severely, pour down some boiled starch ; and if this fail, 

 turn to the directions under diarrhoea. (52.) The horse should return 

 to his usual habits of feeding and full exercise by degrees; and if 

 more than one dose is to be given, a week should intervene. It ia 

 often requisite to make the second and third doses rather stronger 

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