324 STABLE ECONOMY. 



swell after work, or frogs to get thrushy in the house. The 

 horse may have a bad appetite, or his appetite may be too 

 good. For these and suchlike matters some medicine which 

 will gently stimulate the secretions of a particular organ may 

 be very useful. An alterative powder in very common use is 

 composed of antimony, nitre, and sulphur, mixed and given in 

 the same doses, and with the precautions, which are mention- 

 ed in connexion with grooming, to produce a fine coat. When 

 the skin is rigid, the hair dry — when there any pimples oi 

 itchiness upon it — when there is any tendency to swelled legs 

 or thrushes — a few of these powders may be given with 

 benefit, a stronger remedy, such as sweating and purging, be- 

 ing unnecessary or impracticable. When a bad day keeps a 

 hearty eater off his exercise, one or two of them will prevent 

 repletion. 



Sometimes the antimony is given alone. Nimrod recom- 

 mends an ounce every day, for eight days together. The 

 horse should not hunt nor race till a week after the last dose. 



Cordials. — These medicines are seldom wanted in train- 

 ing. Their principal use is to give the horse an appetite. 

 There are many spare feeders among fast-working horses. 

 They are apt to refuse their food every time they are excited, 

 or exhausted by more than usual work. To such, a cordial 

 is now and then of some service. There is no need for the 

 costly and complicated preparations which are sometimes 

 given. 



Take of carraway-seeds 3 oz. 



Anise-seeds, ....... 3 oz. 



Allspice, ........ 3 oz. 



Cloves, 2 oz. 



Gentian root, 4 oz. 



These should all be ground to a fine powder, and beaten 

 into a solid mass with treacle or honey. Divide the whole 

 into twelve balls. One may be given at any time when there 

 is no fever. When the eye and nostrils are red, the moulh 

 and skin hot, they are forbidden. 



Muscular Exertion. — A good deal has been said about 

 exertion in other parts of this work, and it is not necessary to 

 say much here. In preparing for fast work the rule is to pro- 

 ceed from less to more, from a short to a louder distance, from 

 a slow to a faster pace, always by small degrees. In the 

 first week most of the exercise may be given at a walk. This 

 pace has been objected to by Nimrod. He says it injures the 

 legs, and produces spavin. He is in error : there is no pace 



