288 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



of the ball down the throat can be seen, as can 

 easily be done if the outside of the throat is care- 

 fully watched. A drink of chilled water should be 

 then given. The following morning the horse may 

 be gently walked about for a short time to encourage 

 the action of the physic. It is a good plan to 

 physic horses mildly when first coming up from 

 grass, etc., and I am convinced that by so doing 

 they are more easily and quickly got into condition. 



Excessive purging may be stopped by giving a 

 little oatmeal gruel, or, if that fails, gruel made of 

 wheaten flour or a little dry bran. If these fail, 

 the advice of a veterinary surgeon had better be 

 procured ; but it is unwise to interfere with purging 

 unless it is excessive. 



Horses are subject to diseases of the eye, such 

 as ophthalmia, cataract, etc. I will only, however, 

 remark on the latter of these — cataract — as it is the 

 one most frequently met with, and is far more 

 common than it should be, since I am convinced 

 that more than half of the horses which suffer from 

 cataract are victims to the carelessness of servants. 

 Seven times out of ten it is the result of a blow or 

 some gross carelessness. I may as well at once 

 state that cataract is well-nigh incurable. A horse's 

 eye cannot be operated on easily. It can be done, 

 but it is a matter of extreme difficulty to do so. 



