84 THE DISEASES OP HORSES. 



veterinary practice. There are several kinds of it ; that preferred as most 

 suitable for the horse is the Barbadoes aloes ; it is generally given in form 

 of a ball, the dose ranging from four to seven drachm3. Physic balls of 

 various strength can be purchased at most chemists, and, as a rule, may be 

 depended on; but some tradesmen for a little extra profit substitute 

 common and cheaper kinds, less suitable, adding croton oil to insure 

 purgation, than which, practically, nothing can be more dishonest if a 

 simple aloetic ball is required. The following form for a five drachm physic 

 ball, which is a very common dose for a horse, will be useful to those who 

 wish to prepare it themselves : Physic Ball : Take 5£ drachms of Barbadoes 

 aloes, break small and melt in a cup 01 small gallipot ; add 2 drachms of 

 good powdered ginger and a teaspoonful of glycerine, and make the whole 

 firm by working into it a little linseed meal; roll it into the proper shape, 

 and keep in a cool place, it will remain of a proper consistence for a long 

 time. 



In giving a horse a physic ball, it is very important to prepare him for it 

 by giving bran or bran and linseed mashes beforehand — indeed, the horse 

 should have nothing else for twenty-four hours before the ball is given. 

 Aloes is also used for applying to wounds that it is desirable to heal, cuts, 

 bruises where the skin is broken, sore shoulders, &c, a little of the powder 

 may be sprinkled on, or, what is better, a little of the following applied 

 with a feather : Compound Tincture of Aloes : Aloes, 2 ounces ; gum 

 myrrh 1 ounce ; gum benjamin, 1 ounce ; methylated or rectified spirit of 

 wine, 1 pint; water, \ pint. The gums must be broken small, put into a 

 quart bottle, the spirit and water added, and the contents frequently 

 shaken. Of course a fourth or eighth part only may be made. It is very 

 useful, and should be kept in the stable. 



Alteratives.— Alterative medicines are those which slowly and im. 

 perceptibly, by often repeated doses long continued, cause a change in 

 the state of the body. The term is a very popular one ; but it is doubtful 

 whether the majority of those who use it have a very clear or definite notion 

 of what they mean. The word appears to have a sort of charm, for stable- 

 men and others, who generally possess a famous recipe, which is referred 

 to with a mixture of pride and mystery as possessing wonderful powers 

 of "cleansing the blood," " clearing away all gross and foul humours," 

 and, in fact, working such miracles of good by some occult process as to 

 put poor nature to the blush. Some of these compounds would be most 

 deleterious, and, indeed, absolutely dangerous, but for the fact that the 

 chemist who dispenses them uses his own judgment as to the ingredients 

 he puts in. As long as these consist merely of a little sulphur, crude 

 antimony, and aromatic seeds, they do no harm, but the use of powerful 

 alteratives, such as arsenic, mercurial preparations, &c, is highly repre- 

 hensible in unskilled hands. 



The following is a fair sample of what is usually called "alterative," 

 " condition," and "coating" powders, and, as I have excluded all such 

 active but very dangerous drugs as arsenic, cantharides, &c, they may bo 



