215 THE HORSE. 



average size and constitution, just up from grass; for he will find 

 from four and a half to five and a half drachms more likely to serve 

 his purpose. Unless he knows the constitution of the animal, he 

 had better content himself with the former; but generally this 

 quantity will not have much appreciable eiFect beyond a very gentle 

 clearing out of the bowels. No mash is necessary, because the 

 e:rass has already prepared the bowels quite sufficiently. Of course, 

 ii' the horse is already too low in flesh, no physic should be given 

 at this time. 



The cooling powers of physic are those which render it 

 particularly valuable in aiding the preparation of the horse for fast 

 work. If at any time the legs become hot, a dose will carry oflP 

 the plethoric condition which shows itself in this way, and the rest 

 which must be given after it will assist in relieving them. At 

 this time, a mash should always precede the physic; and a second 

 on the following night will often be necessary before the dose can 

 safely be given. 'J'he same effect would be produced by perma- 

 nently taking away some of the corn ; but this would put an end 

 to the preparation altogether, and it is to avoid this alternative 

 that the physic is given. The old plan was in all cases to give a 

 course of three doses, at intervals of nine days, to every horse when 

 first taken into work; but if plenty of walking exercise is used, and 

 the corn is gradually increased, with an ounce of nitre in the mash 

 every Saturday night, this routine is quite unnecessary^ and a 

 couple of doses at the intervals I have fixed will suffice. Very 

 gross, lusty horses will, perhaps, require one, or even two addi- 

 tional doses; and, on the contrary, light herring-gutted animals 

 will do without any. The art of the groom consists in fixing upon 

 the proper quantum, beyond or below which he ought not to go. 



The third object of physic is that which is superseded by 

 the use of the Turkish bath, with much less injury to the system. 

 Both act by removing superfluous fluids from the body, through 

 the agency of the blood-vessels, absorbents, and secreting organs; 

 all of which must co-operate in either case. The fluids lie stored 

 up in the meshes of the cellular membrane, either in the shape of 

 oily or watery matters. To remove them, the blood in circulation 

 must first be called upon to part with some of its corresponding 

 materials, which it does either through the mucous membrane of 

 the bowels, when physic is given, or by means of the skin, when 

 sweating is adopted. This sudden drain from the blood is then 

 made up from the store which has been previously taken from it, 

 and laid by in case of such an emergency ; and thus, though the ex- 

 ternal means employed are very different, the real effect is the 

 same. Both drain the blood of large quantities of water, contain- 

 ing certain soluble matters ; and this sudden call upon the vital 

 fluid compels its vessels to fall back upon the ntored-up ^nateriala 



