t MATERIA MEDICA. 



organ. Absorbents^ therefore, seldom prove 

 effectual, unless preceded by a dose of warm 

 purging medicine ; and then they should be 

 given in conjunction with tonics, such as 

 gentian, quassia , decoction of chamomile , 

 worynwood, he. with an aromatic also, such as 

 cassia, ginger, cascar ilia , &c. When horses are 

 in camp or at grass, they sometimes swallow 

 so much earth, that it forms large balls in the 

 intestines resembling stones, which have in 

 time occasioned death. Hence we may learn 

 how necessary it is to purge horses when 

 taken from camp or grass ; which will pro- 

 bably remove any of this earthy matter that 

 may have collected in the bowels. Horses 

 that work in stone mills are more liable to 

 this complaint than others : in the greater 

 part of the cases I have met with, the horses 

 had worked for some time in a mill, or were 

 the property of a miller ; horses in such 

 situations should therefore have a mild pur- 

 gative given them now and then, which 

 would probably prevent the formation of 

 those stones ; I have lately seen a case of 

 this kind which happened to a miller's 

 horse J the poor animal suffered the most 

 violent pain; though, when examined after 



