SIMPLE AILMENTS 295 



some green food being given, and bran either dry or in a 

 mash, with a little hay. Subsequently a wineglassful of 

 linseed oil should be mixed, or rubbed into the oats, twice 

 a day. A tablespoonful of sulphur may also be put into 

 the mash ; and if the rectum is full of hardened dung, 

 an injection of warm water should be thrown up, as 

 required. 



When a dose of physic is necessary, which is generally 

 indicated by all the legs filling when at rest, a bottle of 

 clear linseed oil may be given, or — 



Aloes ... ... ... ... 3 to 5 drs. 



Gentian 2 drs. 



Ginger 1 dr. 



made into a ball. 



If a horse does not feed well after the physic is "set" 

 {i.e., after the dung has begun to ball again) give — 



Nitric Ether i oz. 



Gentian ... ... i ,, 



in a draught. 



Physic should be given in the morning, when the horse 

 is still fasting, and he should get bran mashes for at least 

 two nights previously. As soon as a horse has had physic 

 administered he must have no hay or corn, and should be 

 muzzled, or racked up, until the appetite begins to fail from 

 the medicine, lest he should eat his bedding. If this pre- 

 caution is not taken a stoppage of the bowels may ensue, 

 with serious inflammation. Balls are now done up in gelatine 

 capsules, which make them far easier to administer than 

 when done up in a paper covering, while the drugs maintain 

 their strength for a much longer period. 



An excellent purge, and one very simply given, is Edos, 

 a gum soluble in liquids, so that it can be administered in 

 gruel, from a soda-water bottle, if the horse refuses its food. 

 Being quite tasteless the usual plan is to give this medicine 

 in a bran mash, which makes it an especially valuable 

 remedy when the groom in charge is not skilled in 



