CHAP. II.] INFLAMED LIVER. REMEDY. 151 



when his eyes appear yellowish, it is then a con- 

 firmed jaundice ; but in very bad cases, producing 

 death, people vulgarly call it " broken-hearted," be 

 cause commonly brought about by bad usage *. 



Inflammation of the liver, which is indicated more 

 by its enlargement than by encreased action, gene- 

 rally accompanies those appearances ; but we cannot 

 be certain, though it is to be presumed, that in- 

 flammation of the part is always consequent upon 

 an over-quantity of secretion. After much procras- 

 tination, medicinal remedies are of little avail when 

 tried on the most extensive scale, although no dis- 

 order to which the horse is liable is easier of cure, 

 if it be taken in time : the patient requires only a 

 treatment directly the reverse of that which brought 

 on his ailments, and he gets well, almost of course. 

 Regular work, moderate feeding, and tolerable be- 

 haviour, comprise these natural remedies : they are 

 usually found efficacious in the earlier stages of the 

 disorder, and then only. But those natural re- 

 medies being neglected, and alteratives (the as- 

 sistants of nature) never thought of, languor of the 

 whole system prevails sooner or latei\ and the best 

 of medicines fail to act by reason of that languor. 

 The absorbents are then accused of not performing 

 their function properly ; or, if they do so, then the 



* Since writing the above, we have ascertained upon the view, that 

 a horse, rankling under the effects of maltreatment, absolutely broke 

 the cells of his heart through high-spirited chagrin. Tbe case is de- 

 scribed at large in the " Annals of Sporting" for July 1822, under 

 the title of '? Broken-heart." 



H 4 



