Id MATSPcIA MEDICA. • 



seen it given frequently, bur have very sel- 

 dom ob.5er\ ed it do any good, and in tlie 

 few cases where it app'.'ared beneficial, na- 

 ture, perinaps, had no inconsiderable share 

 in the operation. 



•. It is commonly supposed that the good ef- 

 fects o( a ItcrUiivcs dLVhiQ fvom certain changes-- 

 they produce in the blood : it is more pro- 

 bable, however, that they act only on t!ie 

 solids ; and thoiTgh their action is scarcely 

 perceptible, they will be found upon a care- 

 ful examination t:o produce some sensible 

 effect, either upon the bov.els, the kidneys^ 

 or the skin^ increasing the action of those 

 pirts, -and causing them to secrete their 

 respective juices or fluids more copiously. 

 Another effect of alteratives, is to augment 

 the vigour or tone of the system. From 

 this view of the subject it appccU's necessary 

 to divide alteratives into four classes, viz*- 

 Laxatives^ diuretics , diaphoretics, and tonics. 



Laxative Alteuatives are useful in- 

 many cases and wiay often be substituted. 

 ioY purgafhes \\\i\\ gxe-dt advantage. 



When a horse is troubled with worms, 

 and is too weak to take strong medicines, 

 oc when he cannot be spared from his work. 



