258 NEGLECTED COSTIVENESS ; AND [BOOK II. 



Clyster. 



Water-gruel, from 4 to 6 quarts, 



Epsom salts, 4 or 5 ounces. 

 Inject warm, with a large syringe, or ox-bladder 

 and long pipe : perform this operation effectually. 



A second and third should follow, a little warmer 

 than the first, and after an evacuation has taken 

 place, the next clyster may be made without salt, 

 and a small degree thicker than at first. Its effect 

 will be to remain and nourish the parts nearly in 

 the same manner as a poultice does an external in- 

 flamed wound. 



Too often, however, those early indications are 

 entirely neglected ; the animal is harnessed in to 

 his day's work, and the consequences are both 

 dreadful and dangerous to behold. If he be a 

 stage-coach horse, or destined to take his turn at a 

 posting-house, his sluggishness and refusal of food 

 is usually attributed to " a little overwork ;" and the 

 much abused cordial is commonly administered ; 

 which brightens him up for the renewal of his daily 

 task, and accelerates his fate, unless rescued as by 

 a miracle that is very seldom wrought. In these 

 cases, the first symptom perceptible to the driver is 

 the horse's leaning against its next horse ; but, 

 upon being touched up, it makes fresh exertions 

 according to its quantity of courage, until it falls 

 down with closed eyes in excruciating torments, 

 lashes out behind, and beats about on the ground, 



